As I spread out my mat today in yoga, I knew that the bracelet I was wearing should be given away. Now that was a silly feeling because I love this particular bracelet. It was a color combination I would have never dreamed of on my own. Someone made an order and designed the chardonnay elastic with the chocolate beads and copper accents. So I had made one to wear because the colors created such a warm feeling. The chocolate brown bead with a light gold elastic coming through, and then the sparkle of the copper really brought more light. Something about the light colored elastic coming through the dark bead really symbolized moving through anything that was dark or hard to handle. I had three copper beads in a row to symbolize my children and I have been loving wearing this bracelet.
As the yoga studio filled with the Sunday morning usuals….I almost jumped up to go give my bracelet to Dean, the instructor and owner of the studio, so he could just give it to someone during or after class. He has let me sell Healing Knots bracelets in his studio and he has watched, supported and cheered this whole development of Healing Knots from the very beginning of time. He witnessed me barely walking through those days and months of such deep sadness and tells the story that I started to smile when the bracelets were created. He says that bead by bead, I came back to life and could smile again!!!
So sometimes I give him a bracelet to just gift someone during class. He always has a really interesting way to weave it into the practice. But, today I just stayed still on my mat waiting for class to begin. I looked around and the class was jammed. Everyone working off their holiday treats and toasts, no doubt. It was an amazing day because the last time I had been to class was a week ago, so I was thrilled to be getting back into the yoga thing again. And, my 21 year old son was joining me for class. There is nothing in this world that I love more than having one of my children in a yoga class with me. To see them moving and twisting and to know that they are healthy and sweating with me, well, it is the best gift I could ever receive.
So, we start class and get into our first downward dog. As my eyes search the upside down people in the back of the class I see a familiar face over by the mirror. It is a woman that I first met when I moved to Austin in 1992. We met in this women’s networking group. Our lives have crossed paths since in mysterious ways and we are both now the mother of 3 children. Her son is in my daughter’s grade and I had heard that he had been in a bit of trouble at school this year. My heart ached for her when I heard the story because when a child is in trouble, there is usually a mother behind the scenes who has an aching heart. So I had wanted to reach out to her a few months ago knowing how it feels to be the mother dealing with all of the details of the punishment…and that is where the story that had started with my bracelet needing to be shared finished. I knew I was going to give that bracelet away…..and she had been on my heart for weeks. The three copper beads were perfect to represent her three children. The light coming through the dark bead was just the symbol for her to know that through this darkness light will come.
I knew it was right ….because my heart was so attached to this bracelet…so it was going to actually hurt to give it away!! That means it is making a true gesture of love and caring; genuine and from the heart.
Class finished and I knew that I could not go disturb her final rest on the mat…when I gathered my water bottle and my mat she was sitting up, so I had my opportunity.
I sat down next to her and just carefully mentioned that I had heard her son had had some trouble at school….I shared that I had a son that had been in the same “time out” environment and I knew how hard it was. I placed the bracelet on her wrist and told her that they will get through this and it will be okay...just boys learning lessons!!! She said he was done with all of the measures with the school last Friday and she had felt such a pressure lift from her body. She had no idea it had weighed so heavily on her. We are fragile, I reminded her, and when our children hurt, so do we. She held the bracelet and said it would be a symbol to remind her of what this experience had taught her. I wished her a Merry Christmas.
She waved to me in the parking lot. And, my heart felt so good. Those times when you feel alone because you are in shock, when you have someone you love that is suffering, when you are not yourself because you ache….I know those days. Sometimes a stranger can just say, I understand. And, today a bracelet and yoga gave me just the holiday cheer I needed!!!
Love to all of you as you face another week in December.
Remember to spread holiday cheer!!!
