Yesterday was one of those days when everything falls into place. I had an 11:00 appointment at one of the banks to renew my passport – this is still one of the most innovative public-private partnerships. Since I’m calling on that desperately needed island holiday, I need to be prepared when the Universe delivers.

 

I arrived 10 minutes early and was seen almost immediately, before my allocated time. First surprise. The signing in, taking of photo and fingerprints was done in under 10 minutes. Second surprise. There was, however, a slight unexpected delay as the system did not register that my previous passport (now expired) had been collected, so the consultant had to attend to this.

 

That took roughly 15 minutes and I had to start the quick renewal process again. I drove out of the parking lot at around 11:20. The shock of that in-and-out bolstered my faith in the system and since I had around 30 minutes extra in my day (I had booked off 11:00 – 12:00 for the passport and expected it to run over), I decided to try one of the COVID-19 vaccine drive-throughs since it was on my way home.

 

What a game-changer!

 

As I arrived at the venue, the Sandton Islamic Association, it looked fairly open, so I drove straight in. I could only see about five cars in front of me. By the way, this community has been behind a few of these innovative drive-through vaccination points. What a game-changer!

 

Not only did I have a choice of which vaccine I wanted, I didn’t leave my car so could listen to the radio or make phone calls during the wait, which just flew by. I’ve seen that some of the retail pharmacies that are administering vaccines are making people sit in queues outside the stores to manage the flow. And while that’s also very convenient, it didn’t really appeal to me.

 

I felt like a kid who’d been given two birthdays in one day!

 

Anyway, I was done by 12:00. Jab in 30 minutes. I felt like a kid who’d been given two birthdays in one day! Mzansi, if all services could be delivered like this, day in and day out, what a superpower we’d be.

 

But I’ve celebrated enough birthdays to know that life’s not like that. It’s not all good. Spiritual masters and life coaches tell us that the struggle, pain, and difficulty are part of the broader plan to create the alchemy that triggers the growth and development required to realise our soul’s purpose.

 

Some of us will understand this in this lifetime; some of us will not. If you believe in reincarnation, some of us may need a few more lifetimes.

 

Not only is some side effect(s) expected after the vaccine, I knew that yesterday was just a little too high and that the Universe needed to create the balance.

 

So, when I woke up this morning with the deep ache in my shoulders and neck, I wasn’t really surprised. I was actually slightly relieved that it wasn’t a migraine. Not only is some side effect(s) expected after the vaccine, I knew that yesterday was just a little too high and that the Universe needed to create the balance.

 

You know, to bring one ‘down to earth’, to an even keel where one flows like a river over the rocks and around the bends and turns, not resisting anything, just flowing forward with ease.

 

Part of that ease is working from my patio today. Mainly since I can’t sit comfortably in my office chair, but also an acknowledgment that I have to go with the flow, what is. Resistance is futile.

 

And just because things work out today, don’t expect that every day. Removing expectations is the key to happiness.