"Deeeeep breath," the yoga instructor calls out, and we all suck in a big round of air. "Ohmmmmm...." She releases the sound ever so slowly with her breath. "Ohmmmmm..." we chorus self-consciously. "Namaste," she says to us. Class over. I keep my eyes closed, turn and lie down on my bright blue yoga mat. Around me, I hear my fellow classmates stirring, packing, softly chatting. Suddenly! Something plops down on my mat. I open my eyes and there is a sneakered foot next to my head, a woman standing over me. "Coffee ladies?" she calls out brightly to her group of friends by the window. "Yeah, I could do with one," Woman 2 replies. "Loo first! Meet you outside," Woman 1 says. Then, without a thought, she continues walking on my mat on her way to the exit.
This happened a while back. I found it particularly ironic that the woman behaved like that right after an hour of yoga! and thought a mindful writing challenge like this would be the perfect time to bitch tell you about it.
Got a pet mindless act of your own to share? Spill! :)
To find out more about Small Stones and the 30 day mindful writing challenge, CLICK HERE.
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"I don't know whether you're aware, Typist but you have a seriously poor understanding of personal space."
Speaking of personal space! Ever wonder if your dog really enjoys having you in theirs? Find out in this interesting post from Mel.
Ha! Funny you should put these two things together - pet mindless act and personal space - because my pet mindless act is literally about pets and personal space. Why do people with dogs off leash (in places where they are supposed to be on leash) let their dog run up to a leashed dog, even when the owner of the leashed dog is yelling 'call your dog away!'. The mindless nincompoop who replies "Oh she's friendly" is totally ignoring the fact that the dog on leash may NOT be, and that her dog is causing the other dog to exhibit signs of anxiety or even aggression at having its personal space invaded.
ReplyDeleteMy Dom does not understand personal space.. he's under my table.. and i can't put my feet down. Its however nice to have such devotion... or maybe he just likes it down there.
ReplyDeletePpl who stomp on other ppl's mat are just simply rude.. i would have glared at her silently... and made sure she got my eye contact. Cos i can't possibly tell her off.. esp after such a peaceful yoga class.. hehehhehee u did nothing?
There you go JEAN! Thank you for spewing that on my [and I'm sure a lot of fellow philocynics] behalf.
ReplyDeleteYou know ANNY, I didn't. I must have been feeling very benign after that ohmmmmm.
My dogs think personal space is them touching me whenever I sit down or grab a snack.
ReplyDeleteNow that I've taught PreK for a number of years and have lived with dogs, I find my concept of personal space in a state of flux! lol Kids and dogs are okay, but adults better stay out of my space! :P
ReplyDeleteHow RUDE she was Typist, should've bitten her on the ankle ;)
ReplyDeleteI reckon most dogs have an invisible personal space area.
Ms Pea is so polite.
x
(On second thought, biting someone's ankle after a round of Yoga and ooohmmming, not so good!)
I'm with Rose. I think biting her ankle right after yoga class is perfect. And I think small stones is the perfect format in which to bitch! Bitch some more, please!
ReplyDeletexox, Tootsie's Mom.
Typist: Do you know about the group Playing for Change? They are going to be performing in Sydney. I thought you might be interested:
http://www.playingforchange.com/
I have not TOOTS. I shall check them out. I haven't been to a concert in ages. Very boring person.
ReplyDeleteWay to spoil a mood, right...My HUGE peeve is people who forget that my interest level in their cell phone conversations is "0"...I do NOT want to hear you chatter mindlessly on your phone everywhere I go...Like when I'm out on a nature trail enjoying the peace and I can hear coming from a distance chattering like a magpie...GRRRR
ReplyDeleteWhen Giz wants space he foes into his "cave" under the side table and I leave him alone when he's there...everyone is entitled to a little privacy
I thought Mel's post was great...The video made it so clear what the dogs were saying
I’d never step on Millie’s bed. Your yoga mat? Hm, not so sure.
ReplyDelete(Only joking)
I agree ..you should of "accidentally" stretched and thwacked her in the shin! Some things are just sacred and your little blue island of meditation mat is one of the!
ReplyDeleteGIZMO, by some strange coincidence, I'm working on a post about mobile phone users! Stay tuned. How sweet that Giz has his own hidey hole. I'm afraid we have no respect at all for Georgia's personal space. She's very patient with us.
ReplyDeleteOh haha, FRIKO ;)
How do you know she wasn't mindfully invading your space? Your fellow yoga student wasn't mindless. She was hostile. :)
ReplyDeleteOh god PAMELA. I don't want to consider that possibility. I am such an inoffensive person ;) What a pity it wasn't a capoeira class.
ReplyDeleteI could always pee on the yoga lady for you...perfect karma! Deccy x
ReplyDeleteAh - yes I have a couple of pet mindless acts...
ReplyDelete1. Owners who let their mini dogs (shih tzu, mini dachsunds, papillon) run loose on a busy where people like me are walking their 60 lbs dogs responsibly on leashes, and the little mini dogs gang up and attack the big dog on a leash, while their owners look at ME like I should do something. Really neighbors??? GET A CLUE and GET A LEASH. Been needing to get that out...thanks.. :)
2. Laying on floor to do exercise (situps, pushups, etc) and a dog appears and lays on me. All space is THEIR personal space until they don't want me in it.
Haha, yah I feel you! My personality contains a complex mixture of New Age sensibility and cynicism about others who profess New Age sensibilities. The cynicism is magnified in situations like the one you describe.
ReplyDeleteYour dog has a face made for the movies. (To build on Jean's comment, then, when the off leash dog jumps my dog the owner always ALWAYS says, "Well, he never did that before!"
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how people can be so completely oblivious. Next time, untie her sneaker and maybe she'll fall on her face on her way to the door. ;-)
ReplyDeleteTy's a dog that loves having his own space. Buster is totally opposite, of course.
I think lots of dogs would prefer we gave them more personal space and respect. They are not the touchy/feely primates that we are. They are just very tolerant and put up with our idiosyncrasies :-)
ReplyDeleteSHERRI, #1 got me nodding my head. It's happened too many times to my 43 kg dog (Georgia) and previously, to my 55 kg dog (Rufus). My favourite...the man, owner of 2 off leash charging yapping mini poodles, who looked up from his newspaper to tell me, "They're scary aren't they?" Then went back to reading. The pox on him.
ReplyDelete#2 got me laughing! They absolutely own us, don't they?
ALTADENAHIKER, we're still waiting for her to be discovered. A source of income, now that we humans are retired, would be great ;)
AMY! You can be evil! BWAH haha!
Georgia--Loved the 'yoga' stone. Very funny--also very irritating! I keep thinking I ought to sign up for a class, but you've changed my mind! Keep your eyes open and a packet of mat-cleaning-wipes close by! Happy Weekend!
ReplyDeleteI find it very true that dogs need more space. I get the 'grunt' if I violate Sage's space when she doesn't want it. Or she just moves.
ReplyDeleteI wonder sometimes if certain people are just rude or too caught up with their own self-importance to realize what they are doing. Fortunately, I haven't seen that in my yoga class. Irritating to say the least!!
This post has me roaring with laughter because this is a pet peeve of mine. I love it (not!) when I'm looking at something in a store and someone edges in front of me because THEY want to look at something. I always want to ask them if their parents taught them to wait their turn, but instead I employ the passive-aggressive technique of just standing there until they feel uncomfortable and move away (shame on me). But, it gives me a kick. Another favorite of mine...when I'm standing in line to checkout and the person behind me gets really close because apparently getting real close to me helps the line go quicker. My naughty reaction to this is to step back ever so slightly so I'm pressed up against them. I feel horrible about being so petty sometimes, but it really gives me a chuckle to turn the tables. I do think it comes down to mindfulness, because I truly don't think (most of the time) they even realize what they're doing.
ReplyDeleteHey LORI! so glad you got that off your chest! I hate those ones too and closely related would be tail gaiting though I think those people are generally fully aware of what they're doing ;) Since no one has mentioned it, I shall now include 2 other pet peeves.
ReplyDeleteWomen who hog sidewalks with their baby strollers, walking slowly, chatting, 2 or even 3 abreast, completely oblivious to people hanging behind them who then have to walk out on the street to pass them by. (That was long enough to be a small stone!)
AND people who park their trolleys in the middle of the supermarket aisle while making a decision on toothpaste or worse, chatting! and who make no effort to move when they see other shoppers coming.! Grrrrr. Am I a grumpy old woman or what?
My dogs have no idea of what personal space is
ReplyDeleteStop on by for a visit
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com
I am always amazed when someone exhibits this narcissistic behavior, not showing any awareness of others. Oh, lovely Pea - I would invade her space at every opportunity.
ReplyDelete