Meditation on Emotions

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending Burning Man with some close friends. We were having a fantastic time, dancing on an art car, surrounded by music and bright lights. But then, out of nowhere, a dust storm rolled in, reducing visibility to mere feet. Instead of feeling disappointment or stress, we decided to embark on a journey back to our camp through the storm. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a beautiful experience. We walked through the swirling dust, still smiling and enjoying each other’s company. There were no expectations, no frustrations; we simply embraced the universe’s decision to make that night all about the dust. I cherished that walk back with my friends, sharing conversations as we strolled through the mile-long duststorm.

Fast forward to this week, and I found myself in New Jersey visiting my son, who has just started his undergraduate studies at Rutgers. Witnessing him thrive in his new environment filled me with a mix of emotions. While a part of my brain naturally considered potential risks and challenges, most of me was overwhelmed with excitement. My son was venturing into a world brimming with opportunities as a bright, capable young man.

However, things took a stark turn when I arrived at the airport to catch my flight back to San Francisco yesterday. Negative energy seemed to envelop the entire situation, and I found myself battling frustration, anger, and disappointment. Our United flight was scheduled for 3:55 PM, but we were told we needed more fuel, leading to a 20-minute delay. Two hours later, they…