Sixteen years ago on my birthday I was filming a yoga video for my yoga teacher in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the producer moved me from my "regular spot" in the studio - front and center - (who, me?) all the way across the room. I was pissed. I was going through a painful divorce at the time and was, eh, on shaky ground at best. That spot represented safety and consistency -- things I was lacking at the time.
I walked all the way across the room, threw my mat down and looked to my right. "Oh, my God," I said to the dude next to me (who I'd never seen, never met before), "I had a dream about you last night."
To which he replied, "So I am, quite literally, the man of your dreams."
Two years later we got married.
After that fateful day - September 16, 2000 - things moved REAL FAST. We got engaged, opened a yoga studio, filmed a yoga video, got pregnant with our first child -- all within 9 months. Well . . . they moved real fast once I surrendered to the process. I was at first quite resistant -- despite Philippe's brilliant first line, great energy, and the obvious soul mate connection between us.
But I was in the midst of a painful life transition and had sworn off love for this lifetime. It was just too damn painful to go through THAT again. I had decided and declared to all who would listen that I was and would be a "happy single mom," with my beautiful three year old daughter. It would be her and me in our little apartment, taking on the world and many fun adventures with joy and love and good energy. I knew that a child only needed loved and good energy - not a family that looked a "certain way." I had seen far too many marriages that weren't full of love and good energy and I didn't want to emulate this for my kiddo. Ya it was just her and me. I was a happy single mom!
And this -- this did NOT fit into that plan. This dude -- this "man of my dreams" -- was not on the menu, so I ran for the hills.
I was in that studio every. Single. Day. Yoga saved my life, and for that I am eternally grateful. When I saw Philippe in the studio, which was pretty much every time I showed up (stalker, he he), I moved my mat, went to the bathroom and never came back, and so on. This went on for three months. Then Philippe (who prides himself on having a superpower of being relentless -- or some might say stubborn) had had it. He moved on.
Then in mid December I snuck to the yoga studio for a much needed practice after my three year old had been sick for a few days. I was sleep deprived. disoriented and had her throw up in my hair, but I didn't care . . . off I drove to Cambridge. Man, I needed that practice. I put my mat down and began to breathe.
Philippe showed up to that class synchronistically (I don't believe in coincidences), a class he normally never took, and put his mat down next to me. I was so tired and beaten down by everything, that I surrendered. At the end of class I let down my guard and all my resistance and talked and talked and talked to this guy, who sat there cross legged, looking into my eyes and listening to me in a way no one in my whole life ever had. I told him how I had throw up in my hair and I hadn't slept in days and other such glamorous stuff, and he smiled and listened, eyes sparkling.
That was it.
And here we are, sixteen years, five children, five yoga studios, a raw vegan restaurant (sold it, thank God), a siberian husky puppy, and many travels and adventures later . . . more deeply in love than ever . . . and we're just getting started.
What are you resisting in your life that's being presented right there in front of you? Can you see it? Are you open to it?
Let down your walls - your resistance - and trust a force more powerful than you or me and has it all lined up for you. If you have faith. If you trust and let go. Let go of what you think "should" be and allow everything to unfold as it should.