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Blessings, Blog, Facebook, Generosity, Giving, good luck, Human kindness, Kindness, Love, service work, Twitter, Unemployed, Yoga
Nearly lost it on the way home from my yoga studio today. No, not falling off my bike… instead, deep sobs of gratitude welling from the pit of my stomach.
Had a little temp work in the last week, from Friday to Friday, four hours a day. Crazy little job really. Sitting on a reception desk where the phone hardly rings, and being told Oh, just look up whatever you like online… They worried if I’d be bored, without realising what an internet addict they had on their hands. Being paid to read blogs/Twitter/Facebook for four hours a day really isn’t bad, considering I’d be doing just that anyway…
Due to this surge of gainful employment, I wasn’t able to do all my hours at the yoga studio this week. Which kinda freaked me out, as I don’t like to disappoint once I’ve made an agreement.
But my yoga teacher said not to worry, and that it was better for me to be out there earning money. Actually, she’s been apologising for only being able to offer me cleaning work – can you imagine? Several times I’ve explained how damn grateful I am to be offered anything at all.
And it’s not that I’m superstitious or anything, but sometimes the space for a change of any kind requires a realignment. If you can’t make it happen yourself, a warm hearted and caring person can perhaps do it for you.
But certainly, I’ve seen more work in this last week than I have in three months. And none of it happened until after my teacher went out of her way to help me. I’m just sayin’.
So anyway, I arrived two hours early today to catch up on my hours for the week. Cleaning I find, is service work of a sort. It brings me joy to help maintain a place that’s becoming like a second home for me.
Then five hours of class, and as I’m leaving my teacher asked me if I’d like to be paid for my work thus far – literally half of the time I’d agreed to. Given it was that or withdrawing more money out of my dangerously depleted bank account, I said sure.
And get this – she pays me as if I’d worked 100% of the hours. Tells me it’s for good luck when I suggested she didn’t have to do that.
So I’m leaving with cash in my pocket, only half of which I’d actually earned and my eyes stinging madly. They’ve been stinging on and off all night.
Tried to think about the last time I did something for someone like that – just gave them money or goods or food – directly benefitting them in a way they really need.
Sure, I donate clothes and belongings to charities on a regular basis. But it’s not quite the same, is it?
Not that it was a lot of money but it wasn’t nothing either, and it’s gonna keep me afloat in the coming week.
It means a great deal more to me than that, though. Such a powerful act of kindness is a teaching in itself, isn’t it?
~Svasti
Svasti: A Journey From Assault To Wholeness 
I do understand what you mean, but you give all the time Svasti. When you comment on other blogs, giving encouragement, your special brand of prodding 😉
and suggestions– those are acts of giving. They may seem small to you, but to some of us they are huge. Thank you.
There’s only one thing you can do when the world blesses you in this way hunnie: Pay it forward.
As and when you can, do something special for someone else.
~JIMMY
not for nothing, Svast – for your heart… for all the love that’s there that i’ve no doubt your teacher sees and wouldn’t want to lose. regardless, it’s a beautiful thing 🙂
@tricia – I’m sorry if I’ve been a little bossy over on your blog of late!
No, I’m not actually. I hope you do learn to give yourself some of the love you’d naturally give to your friends and your daughter. And hey, if it works for you in some way, you can be certain I’ll keep hanging ’round! 😉
@RealJIMMY – Oh definitely. When I’m in the position to offer assistance to someone else in this way, you can be darn sure I’ll be there, giving whatever is appropriate.
@Catatonic Kid – Aw, shucks CK! I’ve been learning a lot by just being around this wonderful woman. Its wonderful to have a strong female role model in my life, that’s for sure!
Sometimes it just takes one tiny act to make a massive shift of energy.
Ohh! I sound so wise and pompous don’t I?
But I really mean it. It’s happened for me, too. When I was so lost and thought I would never be free of depression… one thing I did changed my life.
…And I sent you the brief for some more work today 🙂
This post moved me.
They say like attracts like… so there must be a reason this kind, enlightened person is in your life. 🙂
This is one of those events that you’ll never forget in your whole life. The cleaning part hits close to home for me, because after I got sober in 1985 I knew that returning to office work (without even the benefits of the Internet back then!) would be the death of my sobriety. Just by chance the city manager mentioned to my mother, with whom I was living for a time in a little Oregon town, that the city was looking for someone to clean City Hall and the police department. I signed a year’s contract. Totally agree with you that it is service work and really good for the body to labor like that. I had City Hall all to myself, as I cleaned after hours and on weekends, so I had solitude. The police department, of course, was a 24-hour shop so I got to work on my people skills there, and actually developed a real camaraderie with the officers. When the year was up…..I signed on for one more year. After that I was ready to play the office game once again.
@Amanda – That’s exactly what I was getting at, actually. Like, a river that’s all blocked up and then, someone punches a hole in the dam, allowing the water to flow once again. Am getting around to checking your email!! 😉
@flawedangel – Honestly, I think this woman and her yoga school is the answer to a bunch of my prayers for more like-minded people where I live. She is teaching me so many invaluable lessons, and perhaps its just what I need right now.
@Lydia – Without a doubt, I won’t forget this, ever. Your cleaning work sounds like fun. Its great to put aside your own ego and just get down to making something else cleaner and neater – for other people.
Hi Svasti,
It makes people feel good to do something kind for another person who is in need of that kindness. And it’s that kind of kindness that restores my faith in humanity constantly. I truly believe that people are FAR more good than bad and that for every act of evil, there are fifty acts of pure goodness.
I am also sure that you give her a great deal also, Svasti–real relationships are always reciprocal and it sounds as though this one is. She sounds as though she is an amazing teacher–and person.
Take care,
Melinda
@Melinda – Yes its true, it does make you feel good. But how many of us do it anyway? Certainly not everyone. Many people are very attached to ‘their’ things and money.
There’s definitely a lot of great people out there, but I do think the really outstanding ones are just spread a little too thinly, don’t you? 😉
I really enjoy spending time with my yoga teacher, and being in the environment she’s created down there. So yes, hopefully she’s enjoying having me around, too!
Svasti, you, too, have played a big part in all the good fortune that’s come your way—it says a lot about you, I think. Your unbelievably kind yoga teacher? You’re lookin’ in the mirror, ya know…
@earthtoholly – I’m not entirely convinced of that, but hopefully my future lies in that direction. Y’know, being that same sort of kind and compassionate person who helps others!