Mindfully Clueless

Like many yogis, I would like to be mindful. I would love to be awake and aware of WTF I'm doing. I'm not so good at that.

I regularly send packages to Malibu, Berkeley, and Portland. Recently, I sent a birthday gift to Portland and cursed the post office when the tracking showed the package bouncing from post office to post office before ending up back on my doorstep where I discovered I wrote the Berkeley address on the Portland label. When I checked the label before dropping the box into the bin, the address looked okay to me, but context is everything.

Last week, as is my habit, I stopped at the Starbucks on Mass Ave on my way to work.  It was about 8:30 a.m., and metered parking is required from 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Religiously, I put money in the parking machine for my space because I know how religiously the "Parking Ambassadors" sweep the street.  I can usually duck in and out quickly, but  unlike many patrons, I don't chance it.  25¢ is cheaper than $20 bucks, $40 if you procrastinate for more than 7 days.

The parking spots were filled with snow and ice. The car next to my spot had obviously been parked overnight. It was totally covered in snow.  I hoped the ambassadors wouldn't give tickets on a day like that,  but I wouldn't risk it.

I  was the only one in line at Starbucks. I ran out to see a man approach the car next to me and take out a snow scraper to begin clearing his car off. His windshield was still blanketed in white. My windshield had a parking ticket attached!

I knew I wasn't inside long enough for my spot to have expired. Indignantly, I punched the number to my parking spot, The Yogarazzi was going snap a pic of the remaining minutes except there were no minutes. Watching the man industriously sweep the snow from his car, I decided to punch his number. He had 4 minutes left from the time I had dropped in my quarter.

Snap! I put the money on the wrong parking spot. Because I wasn't sufficiently mindful, I suffered the fate I tried so hard to avoid--the $20 parking ticket.  While I chastised myself, the man finished clearing off his car and drove away. He was unaware he could have been $20 poorer or $40.00 if he was a procrastinator .

What a clueless Yogarazzi. Not only had I gotten myself a ticket by paying for the wrong spot, I hadn't even  thought to drop some coin on the other spot to save the overnighter a ticket. I did a "pay it forward" kind of act without knowing, let alone intending, to do so. I can't even get props for saving his ass. Mindfully, I decided to pay the ticket right away. $20 is a good act/lesson. $40 is a trip to remedial parking  mindfulness school.