When presence calls, answer.

As I learn more about yoga, I consciously try to extend my practice beyond my mat each day. Like yesterday, for instance. I dropped my cell phone in the toilet. With my attentive reflexes, I fished it out quite heroically. I maintained my awareness of the situation, and even had a non-yogic chuckle. I assessed the event as a 'call' to be more present. No pun intended. I will likely have to employ the yogic teachings of pranayama (deep, rhymthic breathing) today at Sprint, when I am informed of how expensive this 'call' to presence really was.

I guess it was coming. My most recent calls to presence have gone straight to voicemail. This one came through loud and clear. The surface meaning is obvious- don't wear your phone clipped onto your pants. It is the deeper meanings that always get me. Let's ponder, shall we?

Perhaps this call to presence was to highlight an area of my life that I need to focus on- communication most likely. Have I not been clear in my conversations with people recently? Do I hide behind the guise of a phone call rather than speak to people in person?

Maybe it's not my lack of communication at all. What if it's that I have been letting people push my buttons and I am about to short-circuit? What if I have been draining my battery too low and I am about to shut down? Hmm.

You may see a trend here, I think a LOT. But honestly, being present is important. How many times a day do I find myself wondering how or when or if I did something because I was not actually present when I did it. Being present means actually paying attention to what you are doing/seeing/hearing/feeling. Events like these shake up a routine day, however annoyingly this particular time. But you know what? Each time I think I hear my phone ringing or I go to call someone, I am reminded of my imbecillic move, and again I am present.

So what if the only real lesson to this wake up call is not to wear my phone clipped to my pants. I have taken something else from it as well- sometimes it takes something out of the ordinary to take us somewhere out of the usual. Now when presence calls, I will try to answer on the first ring!