By Mary Lynn Colosimo

I love yoga and I have recently begun to teach the yoga that I love.   Yoga has brought me a stillness that I cherish.  When I practice and when I teach yoga, my breathing slows down and so do I.  I approach the mat with beginner’s mind as if each time is the first time that I practice this ancient art.   I have also loved all of my yoga teachers, that is, all but one of them.  She approached the class with a spirit of ambivalence, or at least that is how I perceived her style.  However, what I did learn from her was life-changing.  She recommended that we offer an intention at the beginning of each class.  One of the intentions that she offered to us was “paradise.”   She suggested that we ask ourselves what we could do to bring paradise into our lives.   I have never forgotten that suggestion and I offer “paradise” to my classes quite often. 

I began to embrace paradise in various areas of my life.   I began to consider a letter that I would write to my family should I leave the paradise of my life and enter eternity before I was ready to leave.  I even called my friend who is a minister and asked if he would officiate at my funeral service.  After a few days he called and told me that he was honored by the request, but suggested that we still had weddings to plan with my daughters and babies that will yet be born to them.  But my request was received and the following list became a letter that I wrote as a reminder of the many blessings that I have received in my lifetime of paradise.

1. If I am granted another day of life, I would use the gifts that I have been given in service to my community.  I know that I have been given life to offer gifts to others.

2. I wouldn’t speak as much as I listen, given another day of life.  I am reminded of the need to listen twice as much as I speak.  I could learn so much more by listening than if I believe I have all of the answers.

3. I would remind my daughters on a daily basis how much they mean to me and that they have enriched my life in more ways than they can even imagine.  They are gifts given to me that I have not deserved.

4. I want to be reminded daily to offer my smile, compassion, and encouragement to those around me, especially to those who are suffering.  I will not judge those whose dispositions are unkind.   I cannot begin to know what lies deep within their hearts and where their journey has taken them.

5. I want to remember that the true joy of life is obtained in the wonderful journey of present moments to cherish.  Yesterday is over and tomorrow has not yet begun.

6. I want to say what I feel more than what I think.  I want to smile more and frown less.  I want to live in a complaint- free zone and speak about people only when they are present to defend themselves. 

7. If I knew that today was the last day that I would see you, I would hug you and kiss you and remind you that your presence in my life allowed me to become a better person and I would offer you my thanks.

8. If I would know that this would be my last day on earth, I would tell you over and over again how much I love you.

9. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to me.    I would remember to forgive someone today, knowing that unforgiveness is the poison I take hoping someone else will die.

10. When in doubt, I want to choose love.  I will not be disappointed.

Perhaps you will choose paradise today.  I know that I needed to do so.

Love,

Mom