Last night I dreamt that my bike tires went flat. In the typical manner of vivid dreams, an exaggerated swoosh of air accompanied my slow-motion stop. Immobilized and awkward, I felt both anxiety-ridden about slowing down the group and fearful of being left behind.

In real life, I am an uncoordinated bike riding novice (see: switching gears mid-hill, chain falling off). Also in real life, my friends are co-habitating, getting engaged, getting married and having babies (see: one engagement and two births, as revealed by facebook today). I am not keeping up the pace.

My limited understanding of psychology tells me that if those were my priorities, then that’s where I would put my effort. For now, they’re not. I love my life! And I realize that my fear of what might or might not happen in the future only distracts me from the beauty of the present. My pace is mine and mine alone – there’s no one to worry about slowing down. So I’m getting back on the bike. It’s not a race, just practice.

“Do your practice and all is coming.” – Sri K. Pattabhi Jois