Grace like Audrey Hepburn

When asked which celebrity I admire most...which celebrity I aspire to be most like or feel most akin with, my answer is Audrey Hepburn.

Audrey possessed a state of grace, elegance, and had a regal presence, all while being humble, loving, and caring about others.

While it's not fair to put her on a pedestal or giver her saintly status, I just can't imagine her being someone who would get infuriated by a slow driver in front of her when clearly she had somewhere she needed to be by a certain time and clearly she had a frightened animal in the car and clearly she was trying to offer every signal to the car in front of her that she really needed to be traveling at least at the speed limit.  I can't imagine her getting so angry that she could feel her heart beat faster and her blood pressure rising and her frustration and stress level hitting new heights.

No, I imagine Audrey would have gracefully driven at as fast a speed as she safely could.  She perhaps would have gently waved and smiled to the other driver, trying to nicely get their attention and signal for them to please pull aside.  Perhaps she would have found another route or pulled over to regain her composure had she slightly lost her cool.

I was able to channel my inner Audrey this evening, but not until I had become fully consumed with frustration and even anger toward the driver in front of me who seemed like he had no where to be anytime soon.  Once channeled, I was able to send whispers of "sorry," and "please have compassion," "I am compassionate" and "we are one" to the driver in front of me.

I thought of how embarrassed I felt for having become so consumed. I wished the driver in the car would have been a little bit more thoughtful and would have pulled over to allow me to pass. 

I then repeated the "We are one" mantra. I realized that there have more than likely been times when I have been somewhat oblivious to another vehicle that wanted to drive more quickly than I was allowing.  I know there have been times in the fast when I behaved in a "righteously indignant" way, thinking, "The speed limit is 35, and I will not go a 1/4 of a mile above it. Sorry guy behind me."

This situation made me reach out from the heart to ask forgiveness to the driver in front of me, to forgive myself and show myself compassion (I've been working hard and have become a caretaker to my partner overnight since he suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident), and this blog is the first opportunity in about a WEEK where I've had some time to be alone with myself and my thoughts and express myself fully), and I got to remember to think this:

The next time someone is trying to pass you on the road, if it is safe to do so, consider letting them by.  They may just be acting jerky and rushing for no reason, but you never know. They could be rushing to see a loved one who was just rushed to the emergency room.  They could be transporting an injured and frightened animal. They could be feeling sick.  Let's treat each other with love, respect, compassion, and understanding, truly remembering, internalizing, and knowing that We Are One.

Enjoy these images of Audrey with some beautiful words/music to make us think.

Namaste,

Debbie aka Sulilo

Some poses for invoking Grace:

Parsvottanasana (Intense Side Stretch Pose)

 http://www.yogajournal.com

Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)  http://yoga.lovetoknow.com/Bow_Pose

Grace http://sweatybuddha.com/web_images/yoga_pose11.jpg