Word Play

I called Mom to wish her a pleasant journey. She and Dee are heading south for a short vacation.

“Have a great time near the sea while I watch for school cancellations”, I said.

“Oh I’m sure we will. I love you. Behave yourself”, she replied.

“I love you too. Bye.”

Wait? What?

I called her right back.

“Did you say behave yourself?”

“Well, yes I guess I did.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

“Okay…bye”

“Bye.”

I called Dee immediately and asked where Mom was.

“In the kitchen eating toast, why?”

“She told me to behave myself.”

“Yeah, I heard that. Sure am glad she didn’t say that to me.”

I called Had seconds later.

“You won’t believe what Mom said to me.”

I told him.

“I’ve never heard her utter those words before”, he spoke soberly.

I’m not sure if his intention was to make me feel better or not. Dee’s response needs no explanation.

Although Mom’s advise was out of character it obviously hit home.

Do I need to be reminded to act properly? To not throw a hissy fit in public?

Behaving is about accepting what is happening and doing whatever it takes to calm things down, internally and externally. It’s learning how to not push buttons, our own and those of others.

We can find the most inane things to get furious about, fastening a bracelet, opening up a jam jar, remaining in a Yin pose for hours.

The practice of yoga reminds us that we are human beings trying to do our best.

When we feel strong, steady, patient and calm, things are okay.

When our balance is off, the teacher or music bugs us, or we can’t stop checking the time, things aren’t so good. We misbehave and have inner tantrums. We gripe, grouse and grumble.

An anagram for yourself is “lose fury”.

Maybe Mom was reminding me through word play to behave if I feel slighted, irritated or ignored, let it go, lose fury.

Funny we aren’t much of a word play family…I wonder why Dee and Had didn’t need a reminder?

Namaste- “sane mat” by the way!