We’re into week 3 of this 40-Day Rejuvenation program and the focus is ‘equanimity.’ Try saying that three times fast while sober (hint: it’s a lot easier if you’ve had a few glasses of red; just rolls off the tongue). According to Baron Baptiste, equanimity is the art of meeting life as it meets you: calmly, without drama or fuss. He says that if you have equanimity, then you can stay centered as you experience the highs and lows of life.

I don’t know if it’s just that I’m tired of thinking about myself and who I am, but I’m confused (Baron would probably say I’m resistant). But I don’t see myself as that reactive, so I’m thinking maybe I can skip this part of the book and move on to Week 4. But then I get into traffic and I’m running late (as usual) and end up behind a Q-tip in a Cadillac with a Bush/Cheney ’04 sticker on her car (double whammy). She’s got her blinker on while she’s going straight and is completely oblivious to my usually effective tailgating technique. Who needs equanimity when you’ve got anti-lock brakes?

Okay, I get it, I’m supposed to be breathing at this point and letting it go. Breathe in; breathe out. What lesson am I learning from this? I should leave earlier and then I wouldn’t be in such a hurry. Ugh. Who wants to learn that lesson? Isn’t there something more interesting? Equanimity, equanimity, equanimity--three times, fast.

~ Sheri Joseph