Recently my cable went out the night the Emmys were on, when all I wanted to do was kick back and see if Bill Hader, my current favorite actor, would win for Barry, my current favorite show.
When my screen went black fifteen minutes into the show, I verbally expressed something I usually don’t, and then frantically tried to find the info to call the cable company. After spending a ton of energy fuming, I received a text from a friend that said “Bill Hader just won an Emmy.” (Me: “@#%*!”)
I know I can watch it on YouTube later. That didn’t matter. In that moment I had just wanted to give myself a break, turn my brain off, and do nothing but watch TV…but life didn’t go my way. There are so many bigger issues to get upset about in the world today. And yet despite having what I consider a usually balanced perspective, this insignificant thing set me off.
The next day in my morning meditation, I remembered a scene from my Costa Rica horse workshop back in May. My group was observing the herd, and how they so amazingly can read each other’s energy, always completely in tune with each other and their surroundings.
The most incredible thing is that any time we saw something startle the horses, they jumped for a second, but then they immediately went back to grazing—one hundred percent relaxed.
Horses don’t think, “Ugh, I can’t believe how scary that thunder was! Is it going to happen again? Will there be lightning too?” Instead, they immediately let it go.
Unlike me, who couldn’t get over what happened. Why does it have to go out now? Why can’t technology just work? Do I need to switch cable companies??
Before Michael Douglas presented the award to Bill Hader, he told all the losers in the category to carry the rage of their loss and let it fuel their lives from this day on. It’s funny because it’s true—we humans tend to hold onto stuff that really doesn’t matter in the big scheme of things.
Bill Hader (who meditates to deal with anxiety) thanked his herd of brilliant costars for his win. Knowing that you are supported by the universe is the secret to moving through stuff, letting go, and winning life. It’s literally how horses survive and are such amazing open beings.
In other words, everything’s going to be ok, whether the cable goes out, or you see the worst thing on the news. And if the cable goes out during the news, even better. I now know that’s the invitation to go back to grazing.
It’s all about the magic. 🙌