A lesson in trust and equanimity

Author: Mary Westley

Getting here …a lesson in trust & equanimity. I think?

My eldest daughter, Sarah, was wondering whether she needed to book me into some place safe when I arrived at her home in Perth on my way to India. As embarrassing as it is, here is the whole story…

Sunday afternoon between Chatswood and Central stations I discovered I didn’t have my passport…deep breath…I’ll just go home and get it and reschedule my flight to Perth. I was flying first to Perth to visit Sarah and then going on to India on Wednesday. I rang Sarah and she said come to Perth as planned and get Kyla (youngest daughter) to express post it across the next day. That sounded good so I hopped on the plane to Perth.

The plan to fly to Singapore on Wednesday morning was still on track at this stage. Kyla sent my passport by express post on Monday morning. I rang Australia Post on Tuesday…expected date of delivery Friday. Hmmmm…another big breath. Rang Singapore airlines to cancel flight to Singapore to be told that I had actually booked the flight for the 9/11 instead of 9/12. So the flight left without me a month ago. Getting close to tears at this stage and gave myself the typical hard time. How could I be so stupid, 15 years of travelling around by myself and hardly even had a late flight. What is the universe up to I am wondering?

Pulled myself together and rang Silkair to cancel flight from Singapore to India. Still Tuesday at this stage.

Passport arrived Wednesday. Rang to rebook flights – Singapore airlines fully booked till Xmas – now have a credit till Nov 2017 that I am unlikely to use. Jetstar saved the day. The Silkair flight to India had to be upgraded. So, with considerably more on the credit card I flew out on Thursday morning, only 1 day later than planned.

The lesson? What is, is. An authentic life is not a perfect life. Nor are things going ‘wrong’ a reflection of who I am. What does define me is how I respond. This was a great chance to practice trust and maintaining equilibrium! Sarah was a great teacher in this regard. When I was having my mini meltdown she basically said “no point getting upset, it won’t help”! Pure yogic wisdom from my beautiful daughter.
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Oh and I met 2 wonderful people at the airport and on flights that I would not have had the opportunity to meet otherwise. Who knows where that might lead. I look forward to finding out.

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