"It's not about perfect. It's about effort. And when you bring that effort every single day, that's where transformation happens. That's how change occurs."
I posted this quote yesterday on my personal facebook page and this morning little Dakota, age 6, learned the lesson real time while making his lunch for school today.
I'm all about teaching my kids to do things independently, and while it's challenging short term for all parties involved (wink wink), in the long run the dividends are well worth it. Happy, strong, healthy, independent, confident, empowered kiddos and happy, proud parents. So Dakota and Montana (both age 6) are making their own lunches these days with Supermom's supervision. This morning, it was all rainbows and sparkles till Dakota went to cut his sandwich in half. That turned out to be, eh, a disappointing experience for this little nugget, and he burst into tears.
I swooped in and showed him how we could make a BLTT with the now mangled sandwich to be eaten pronto by adding tomato, lettuce and the bacon I was synchronistically frying up for breakfast (Bacon - Lettuce - Turkey - Tomato), and we all pretended we were at a faaaaaancy country club eating our club sandwiches by the pool. Hey, I got Dakota to laugh (and he wolfed down that BLTT "club sandwich" and asked for another, he he).
Tears now dried and tummy full, I could tell Dakota that it's not about perfect. It's about doing your best with breath and doing that consistently every day. It's about showing up with an open heart and open mind and learning all along the path of this school called Life.
He smiled and agreed, and then declared that from now on, he would only make PB and J, because that is easier to cut. It wouldn't be as messy as the turkey sandwich. So even though he liked the turkey better, he would just not make that anymore because of this one Monday morning sandwich debacle.
I said, "Sure, okay honey."
(Gotcha! You know me better than that . . . .)
I (actually) said, "Uh, oh no you don't, Mister. You're gonna get right back on that horse and try again! And Mommy will be right here with you. Let's make another turkey sandwich right now."
He agreed, and we did and was it perfectly cut? Nope. Was it a bit better cut than the previous sandwich? You bet. Did Dakota wanna make a third sandwich and make it look better? Yes, but as the Universe would have it, we were plum outta bread (happens frequently and quickly when you have five hungry little chickens clucking about). So Dakota had to sit with his "not so perfectly cut turkey sandwich" and find the positive aspects of it - and the experience.
Which he did, famously, I must say. He shifted his attitude and became proud of that sandwich.
This may sound totally irrelevant to you and your day today but I'm guessing it isn't. I'm guessing there was at least one time when someone slammed you as a little kiddo for not doing something well or "perfectly" and although that person had your best interest in mind, the experience may have paralyzed you -- until now. Now is the time you can begin again, knowing that just showing up consistently and doing your best is what it's about. Not perfection. No one expects that of you, and if they do, best to not engage in that dialogue but instead just send light to the person, because that is what they expect of their own actions.
We see transformations frequently as we teach our Prana Power Yoga Teacher Training, and last weekend was no different. I have the pleasure of watching teachers in training remember, feel, and let go of events like this in their childhood, which have perhaps affected their relationship to their world and others - ever since.
Now that's magical.
Ya, I believe in magic. And new beginnings. And just showing up again and again, doing your best, and letting the Universe take care of the rest.