I was riding my bike home from teaching a Mindful Yoga class today, and usually I ride home almost as fast as I can to really get in some leg work and cardio. Today, as I approached the railroad tracks, the lights began to flash and I knew a train was approaching. Because I was in ‘do’ or action mode, my first response was — “Crap, now I have to stop and wait for this damn train.” However, it took a short time for me to smile at that part of me who wanted to just continue with my ‘workout’ and instead see that I was being asked to practice exactly what I had just been suggesting each of my students do in the rest of their day!

I rode my bike up close to the tracks to wait, closed my eyes and enjoyed the unbelievable power of the sounds as they passed. I’ve had to wait at the tracks before on my bike, but I never noticed the subtle or not-so-subtle changes in how each kind of rail car sounds. The ones that are double stacked are much louder and sound like they’re coming at you – so much so I had to open my eyes just to make sure they weren’t! I felt quite alive standing there with my eyes closed, feeling the wind swirl by, and hearing the rhythmic sound of the rail cars clanking over the tracks. Very different than ever before.

I hope you stumble upon many moments in your day (or maybe you already have) to pause and take in the moment more fully.