Lessons from the Checkout Line

Wednesday, December 31;



This sounds like it may be a post about about eating well, but it's not at all. It's a short allegory that I thought you may enjoy. I was in the checkout line at my favorite grocery store on Sunday. The line was quite long, so I was practicing a new skill that I'm trying to develop. It's called patience. An older woman with a bad wig pulled up behind me with her loaded shopping cart. She paused for a moment, went to look for a different line that wasn't as long, and then came back with a huff. I looked at her, smiled, and then said a new phrase that I have been repeating to myself, "we're practicing forced relaxation." She smiled and said she hadn't heard that before. I explained that was due to the fact that I had just made it up. She said she liked it, and I encouraged her to pass it along.

Now, I'm no maharishi, but I think this idea of "forced relaxation" could be a good thing. It happens when you have no option than to take it slow. Go easy. It's like waiting in a line at the grocery store. Sitting in bumper to bumper traffic. Being stuck on the Metro. Having an invasive surgery that keeps you out of the gym for months.


We have the opportunity to decide how we handle these situations. Do we get antsy and irritated? Do we take the opportunity to take a deep breath and relax? Do we make a to-do list? Do we squeeze our glutes for 10 sets of 10? It's up to you!


I choose to take the opportunity to take a breath and relax. I had done a lot in that day, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to "be easy on myself." Maybe I should say I took the opportunity to enjoy a little "forced relaxation."