Two weeks ago, in the pre-dawn hours as a made my way to teach my 6am class, I totaled my Subaru in an accident that involved me, my vehicle, a parked car and what - in the moment - appeared to be a wolverine, or perhaps a baby Yeti. In other words: I hit a parked car swerving to not hit a raccoon. Fortunately, nobody was injured (including the raccoon) except for two cars, and my insurance rate.
After the accident, my car was towed to a collision center. While it was there, awaiting me to make arrangements for the no longer road-worthy shell of parts, someone rummaged through and stole some items I wasn’t able to grab before it was towed. In a strange addition, at the time of the accident, my car was completely packed with the last load of my belongings as I’m temporarily moving out of my house for a remodel. I’d unloaded most of my stuff by the time the tow truck arrived and certainly everything of much value, but I can’t say I remember all that was in there when it was hauled away.
Among a couple of items that I’m sure went missing were a couple of yoga mats - but not the nice expensive ones still in my backseat, or the box of brand new yoga blocks I’d just purchased. The loose change in the middle console - but not the useful iPhone cords, chargers or the pair of earrings I’d bought as a Christmas gift still in their store packaging. And the roadside emergency kit - but they’d intentionally left behind the most valuable item in the kit: the copper jumper cables.
I was telling the mechanic who purchased my wrecked shell of a Subaru and who runs his business in the same business park about what was stolen. He thought for a moment and then said, “the yoga mats were probably the thickest ones you had?”
In fact, they were. They were the less expensive, almost foam-like ones. Not really ideal for a regular yoga practice or re-sale, but good as back-ups for a yoga teacher on the move.
“Probably good to sleep on....” my mechanic’s voice trailed off.
We were both quiet.
“The first aid kit...” I started thinking out loud, “would have had bandaids, rubbing alcohol, an emergency blanket, plus the kit was, itself, a canvas bag with zippers.”
He nodded and then added “And flares probably... good for making a fire.”
My throat tightened as I realized that my ‘thief’ was someone in need of survival necessities.
Life has thrown me some hardships the last month, and the next few months will not be without their challenges. I’ll admit, it’s gotten me down and it can be easy to slip into a negative mindset and start to feel helpless. There have definitely been moments (hours, days…) of feeling sorry for myself and pushing those who love me away out of pride and a desire to retreat into the dis-ease of depression. However, even on the nights where I’ve needed to cry myself to sleep out of overwhelm, I’ve been able to do so in a warm bed and with easy access to food and water. I have a job doing exactly what I love to do. I’ve met the love of my life who patiently waits for me to let him in to my guarded heart and only occasionally gives me a hard time about my neurotic tendencies (and always with a twinkle in his eye). My parents are at the ready to provide homemade vegan food, pet-care and a warm home with my choice of bedroom AND private bathroom while I’m displaced from my house (for a remodel that will give me a brand new place to call home next year). My friends hold space for me to come back to when I’m ready for company and to laugh.
While it’s true that I’ve had a month of injury, grief, and financial setbacks, it is also true that the fortune in my life is beyond abundant.
I looked up at the mechanic after a moment of shared silence and said, “Well, they needed that stuff more than I do. I hope I had a blanket in there I forgot about.” He smiled, nodded and we shared the look that you give when you realize how lucky you are to have all that you have.
Unexpected and timely perspective.