My mom has much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

After my dad inadvertently dropped a pencil holder on top of her head, a CAT scan found a bigger problem inside her head - a tumor in the frontal lobe. One very worrisome week and an MRI later, doctors deemed the shadow on the CAT scan a fluke and sent her home miraculously cured of a tumor that didn’t exist.

When my mother returned home from her latest doctor appointment, awaiting her were flowers and a note from my grateful father; it was on that very day, 50 years ago, that they had met for the very first time. My dad took the opportunity to write of his love, his gratitude, and apparently some very exciting, yet long overdue, traveling plans he has made for the two of them.

Yes, my mother has much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. After a knock on the head, she is falling in love all over again.

My parents have been retired for years. And the have been talking about traveling for at least that long, yet haven’t. Like them, we all tend to safely adhere to the known routine and coast along comfortably, rather than risk disruptions. That is, until something beyond our control tumbles on us - not something big enough to crush us, mind you, but definitely big enough to forcefully wake us up from the auto pilot stupor in which we’ve been living daily life. Startled into taking control of our personal helm, and begin to see with the eyes of our soul, listen with our heart, and set a course directed not by ease and convenience, but rather true intention.

In yoga, injuries can also be startling and quickly reinstate us as pilot. Injuries often occur when we stop paying attention. We ignore the signals, move quickly past warnings, and then are left frustrated when we no longer can move effortlessly, and thoughtlessly, through our practice. Yet, our injuries in stopping us, also serve us. We are forced to cultivate awareness and connection with our bodies. We learn patience and acceptance as we work with and through our injuries, and develop courage and compassion in the process. Ultimately, in healing, we discover ourselves appreciatively stronger.

So this Thanksgiving, I will be giving thanks for my injured hip that is demanding that I be gentler, a teenage daughter who is teaching me to be more patient, and even the recent clumsiness of my father . . .

. . . because sometimes our gifts are painfully disguised, and a knock in the head is just what we need.

If you live in the Washington DC metro area, and would like to schedule a private lesson, yoga party,or inquire about upcoming workshops and retreats, please email peggy!