Ever had one of those days, weeks, or couple weeks where things are a bit off? Where maybe you receive some tough news, something reminds you of life’s delicacy or the fragility of the human heart? I’ve had those times lately, where I feel like my brain is going at the speed of lightning while my heart hangs heavy and my body moves through honey.

I’m walking in this slow fast way, coming up from BART with a yoga mat under my arms and a very tall lady is walking confidently in my direction. Now, I’ve been shouted at more times than I would like around public transportation. A homeless man has shouted “BOOM!” in my ear as I walked by, I’ve had hands shaped like guns pointed at me, deep explanations about friend’s sister’s neighbor’s dog walkers. Naturally, I move slightly out of this woman’s way and I can see she is about to form some angry words with her mouth when she surprisingly yells out, “YOOGGAAAAA!” I couldn’t help but smile and that smile set the tone for my day. It was just the little reminder I needed to get back in touch with the small pleasures in life, to walk with a sense of ease and lightness, and to never assume too much without fully knowing.

This woman probably had no idea how much I needed that exclamation of excitement. How, even before coffee, I could be awoken to a little laughter and a the kind of act that shakes perceived reality in the most humble and unexpected way.