Just Breathe
For those of us who listened and followed guidelines, emerging from the restrictions of the COVID Pandemic can be a challenge. I traveled recently for the first time in over two years. It felt like it had been a lot longer than that. It was wonderful to be with my daughter on one trip and with extended family (cousins and their families) on another trip. So much fun and plenty of laughter. Yes, fun and laughter abounding. It was worth learning all over again how to pack well, navigate airports, and be shoulder-to-shoulder with the stranger in the next seat. I wore a mask on flights. The airports I was in had arranged some of the gate seating to allow for distancing. It was nice to have that choice and a little tiresome to have to think about it. So many little choices that did not exist in the past. Wearisome.
So, I remembered something I wrote down years ago:
When all else fails, just breathe.
Slow deep breaths as I sat in an unscheduled gate area. I also strolled around rather than sit the entire time waiting for my flight. It feels good to walk before a cross country flight. It didn't feel quite as good when my cross country return flight was delayed and I arrived home at 12:20AM rather than 8:00PM the night before. Exhausted,
So, I sat down in my kitchen and reminded myself:
When all else fails, just breathe.
As I felt relaxed and ready, I washed my face, took a quick shower & brushed my teeth. Everything else would wait until I slept. I fell asleep in gratitude for the love shared on my trips. Gratitude for hugs, so many hugs. Gratitude for not talking about anything missed these past few years. All that mattered was being together in the now. It's all that really ever matters, isn't it? Memories are a gift but this present moment is an opportunity.
What are you doing with your moments? Not sure? Never thought about it? Well,
When all else fails, just breathe.
And when you relax into this present moment, decide what you will do with it. Perhaps fill it with love and laughter.
Contact me with questions, appointment requests, or whatever is on your mind and heart: [email protected] Please consider joining my online meditation groupπ
