Putting down the rye bread

In the last month, I’ve yanked four grey hairs. One for each week, it seems. So when my dad extended an invitation to a lecture on How to Overcome Stress, the fascinating silver strand being examined between my thumb and index finger provided the answer.

Dada J.P. Vaswani, a renowned humanitarian and non-sectarian spiritual leader, packed the stunning BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto yesterday.

A brief promotional video, then out he came. Dada’s motto: to be happy, make others happy.

Engaging and lively for a man 90 years young, his keys to success are neither costly nor time consuming. Dada listed five major points, but my overworked memory only retains three: smile; laugh; your attitude is everything.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? It’s so much easier said than done, though. Especially if you’re a journalist who can’t resist booting up the laptop with her morning chai instead of practicing asanas.

It seems Dada read my mind. Instead of heading straight into the kitchen for breakfast, he suggests two changes. Smile as soon as you wake up, and while still under the covers, ask, “Lord, help me smile all day.”

Easy as chai.

This morning, I smiled at the alarm clock on the dresser, but forgot to ask for a lovely Sunday. So I did what he suggested, putting down the rye bread and heading back to the bedroom. I laid back down and made a simple plea. “Lord, help me smile all day.” Then I booted up the laptop and sipped the chai.

The quest for a Sunday filled with shanti was seamless. One breath at a time, mindful reflection is a beautiful thing. For the sake of my twenty-something head of hair, let’s hope it becomes a habit.