Today was supposed to be the first day back to school for two out of three of our kids. But a cold front has come through, with a little moisture to go with it–in Georgia, where we live, that is reason enough to cancel school, apparently.
So now I find myself with a bit of a gentle reprieve–an extra day to slow roll into our normal, frantic routine.
It’s 7:30am as I am writing this post, and the house is still silent. Even the dog and cat are sleeping in. I have started my day with quiet sitting, sipping coffee and enjoying the hush of the house. Outside my window, the sky has changed from darkness to a bright, overcast grey. The view of the leafless trees is starkly beautiful.
I have really appreciated this subtle shift in my mornings, which all started with a commitment to take time to take my time.
In a similar spirit, I thought for today’s experiment I would see if I could start finding a moment–preferably in the midst of the rush of the day–to come to a stop. Again, I’m setting the bar low here–fifteen minutes will do just fine. Even if it means just turning off the computer in my office and looking out the window, or taking a fifteen minute detour that takes me off my hurried course, that should be enough.
I will post below in comments later in the day to let you know how it goes!
365 Simplify 
may you find increasing
ease & calm
by stopping
for conscious breathing,
with diligence 🙂
Thanks!
So I had a break between two classes today–a little longer than 15 minutes. I thought that would be a perfect opportunity to put a halt on the day. Normally, I would be rushing from one thing to the next, checking email, etc. Today, I sat in my office, in a seat I don’t normally sit in, looking out a window that I rarely take time to look out of. It definitely slowed me down and made my actions a bit more deliberate. The only problem was keeping back the crush of time; it was hard to fight the urge to look at a clock. I think I managed to get a good 8 or 9 minutes in…. not bad for a first go, I would say.
Next time set an alarm so you don’t have to look at the clock until it sounds.
Good idea. I’ll make sure to use something a little less startling than “Old Car Horn!”
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It is amazing how even 5 or 10 minutes of consciously sitting and letting go of the events of the day can make a difference – I usually feel more refreshed, more grounded, and clearer in my thoughts.
Thanks for pulling me back to this post and reminding me that I can do this one on any day, at any time, and just about anywhere!
Taking a 15-minute break in the midst of the rush of the day is a brilliant idea. I will set an alarm on my phone to remind me to do it today! 🙂
It’s a great trick, when I can remember to do it.
It certainly worked wonders for me yesterday – have made my iPhone reminder a daily occurrence now! Thanks again! 🙂
So here we are, a year later, and what a welcome reminder that I can always come to a stop in the midst of my day, if only for a few minutes. In fact, I am going to that right now!