Yesterday, I picked a beautiful purple rose that has only perfume no thorns about its being. My practice is to go out on my bike to work, carrying a rose. The first person who remarks on the rose peeking out of my purse is the owner.
As I was riding, I saw a young woman wearing very short shorts with cuffs. My mind began, “Those shorts are extremely short. That is strange to see in Kelowna. I wish I had young legs and looked that good. What is she doing showing herself off like that. BlahBlahBlah.” As I passed her, the rose fell out on the ground. She spoke to me in a clear, sweet voice and said, “Pardon, you have drop something.” She was from Quebec. I yelled over my shoulder, “Thank you. The rose is yours.”
What an amazing experience to go from having my mind chattering along in its anxious, jealous, negative manner and then feeling light, free and really, really good about myself and life. I could feel the weight lifting. Oh, I thought to myself, that is what Pema Chondra, Thich Nah Han and others are trying to show me.
It just feels better to be generous in spirit than to be jealous. It is ultimately good medicine.