Have you ever felt like you are doing the one-minute waltz in 30 seconds? Or perhaps you are riding a Class V wave as you are rafting the river of life? Do you feel like you do not have any personal time at all because you are successfully fulfilling many roles for other people, including a job? Do you just fall into bed at night, so exhausted that you have a hard time falling asleep?

How is it that, somehow, you feel like a puppet with others holding the strings, making you dance the way they want you to do? Perhaps you are so nice that you cannot control your own destiny?

Sometimes, one has to stop, breathe deeply, take a step back in order to look at your life objectively. Is that even a possibility?

NO? Absolutely not! What a crazy question! With all of the obligations that one feels like he/she must complete for every single day, how could one stop for even a moment?

In this fast-paced world that we are living in, so many people are so stressed out that it is only a matter of time before ill health and chaos catches up with them. Do you want to be one of those?

Life is hard enough without all of the diseases that are aggravated by stress of so many kinds.

So I ask you again, what will it take to get your attention? Will it take something drastic?

One can have a “To Do List” that is so full that one could not complete it in a week, let alone a day. No, you do not have to tear it up and forget the whole thing (which is what usually happens when you finally have some chaotic thing occur to get your attention). But you can begin to prioritize your list, whether it is internal (a mind thing) or external (real paper/pen thing).

But at the very top of your list, put at least 5 minutes in the morning for you – when you wake up or having your cup of coffee. Breathe deeply. Be in the moment. Notice something beautiful in your surroundings. Quiet your monkey mind, which is already running circles around you. You will find that even 5 minutes can change your perspective all day.  It can literally even change your life.

If you are in a tense meeting, take a moment to breathe deeply, and then proceed as you think best. That breath may save your life in many ways.

Let’s say the children are whining or fighting and you feel like you are at your wit’s end. Stop still literally and take a quiet moment to breathe deeply, even if you have to lock the bathroom door for just a bit. Proceeding from that point can calm the Class Five waves and help you to deal realistically with whatever is going on.

Easy for me to say, isn’t it? After all, I do not have your obligations, or your problems. If I did, I would not be approaching this subject with such equanimity and simplistically.

Well, folks, I have worn that hat a million times in every way imaginable. What saved me is doing exactly what I am proposing that you should try. For only when you try it and see how well it works can you see the Truth of it.

Are you willing?

God’s blessings on your journey!

Here is an afterthought on a card I keep near me:

Time

“Time is an invention of mankind.

It is in our control.

If you should be in need of ‘Just a little more time’

or ‘Just one moment of peace,’

Take it – it’s yours.”

by The Love Company 1983

Hawaiian Sunset

Breathe