Earlier this week, I made an appointment and took my Prius into the Toyota dealership to get it serviced. It was just for normal maintenance which usually takes no more than two hours.
But this was not a normal day. The service department was extremely busy, and they told me I would have to wait about three hours, even with the appointment.
As much as I dislike having to wait, I knew there was nothing I could do to change the situation, and since I had no one to pick me up and drive me home, I sat in the Toyota waiting room. It’s a fairly comfortable space with good coffee, so it’s not such a hardship.
For the first two hours, I read a book on my phone. Then I realized that the charge on my battery was very low, so I put my phone away and moved my attention from an electronic world to the 3-D world outside of the waiting room.
Through the window, I could see beautiful, puffy clouds moving slowly over the landscape. The heads of two palm trees were visible above the building across the street. Their fronds blew furiously in the wind. It was an unusually chilly May day in Los Angeles.
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My attention moved to the foreground, to the wires and cables strung from pole to pole. I thought about this older technology in comparison to the wireless technology we use more and more. Wired or wireless, it’s all about communicating with each other. The irony is that we don’t communicate much in person anymore. We prefer to connect through a virtual world on our electronic devices.
I was then drawn back inside to the young woman who sat in front of me. Her attention was buried in her cell phone as she texted with someone, one leg crossed over the other, her raised foot furiously bouncing in a nervous frenzy.
This was me a couple of years ago – a bundle of nerves, filled with adrenaline and constantly vibrating. I thought about how unhealthy it is to be in that state all the time. It seems these days that most people are in that “fight or flight” mode every waking moment. It releases adrenaline and cortisone into your body and makes you feel anxious all the time – not good for the heart or the soul.
I tried an experiment to help the young woman in front of me. I sent energy to help her calm down. Her foot stopped bouncing. Maybe she was getting my message. But when I took my attention away, her foot started up again. If only she would take a deep breath and let it out, take a break from her frantic, virtual world and take time for herself.
I took a deep breath and let it out silently to influence her energy. I took another breath. The energy that we put out does influence everyone around us, subtle or otherwise. We’re all one and interdependent. I never saw the young woman take a deep breath. I don’t know if my actions helped. Shortly afterwards, a Toyota employee let her know her car was ready. She put her phone down and gave him a relaxed smile.
Since I began meditating and practicing conscious breathing, I’ve learned to let the frantic energy go. I’ve taught myself to be mindful about my thoughts, to take time to breathe and release the stress in the exhale. I’m grateful to have discovered the ancient practices of meditation and Pranayama. They’ve helped me move my life from panic to a more pleasurable state consistently. Whenever I begin to feel anxious, I breathe consciously and let go of my frustration.
At this point, my time in the waiting room had moved beyond the three-hour mark. I checked with the service manager and was told that my car would be ready soon. That was not the case, however. I ended up waiting for over an hour more. I could feel the urge to bounce my foot in impatience, but because I was aware of my feelings, I let them go and my foot remained still. I practiced some breathing, took a walk to the showroom to look at new cars, came back, talked with a little girl who passed the time playing with toys, and finally, I got my car back – after nearly five hours.
The bonus is that, as I drove home, my energy and thoughts were peaceful and happy. Those people at the service center have stressful jobs, dealing with angry people. I was grateful that I did not add to their stress and maybe even shared some calming energy with them.
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Diana Osberg is a certified sound therapy facilitator, soundbath practitioner, and Yin and Restorative yoga teacher, and is trained in conscious breathing techniques. Under the name Inner Story Retreats, she facilitates events, workshops, and retreats to help people recognize and release self-limiting stories, connect to their inner wisdom, and develop tools to deal with whatever life throws at us.
On August 17, Diana will lead the Japanese Garden Healing Retreat, a morning of mindful breathing, gentle Yin yoga, and a blissful soundbath in a traditional lakeside Shoin at The Japanese Garden. Check for Early Bird and Group Rate DISCOUNTS.
