Wake Me Up BEFORE September ENDS!!!

Well, it’s the last week of September. I know, I can hardly believe it myself. The kids have been back to school for almost a whole month already, it’s been back to after school sports/activities and everything else that comes with the hum of your and your family’s everyday life. Are you asking yourself yet, “Where did my September go?” I know I am, and I don’t have a family of my own yet.

If you’re feeling this way, and trust me I can relate, may I make a suggestion?      STOP!
That’s right, I mean you Mom running around trying to get all the errands done before school lets out. That means you too Dad, organizing the kids for hockey while also trying to help the others finish their homework. Whatever your family’s particular rhythm, just STOP for a second.

Now that I have your attention. Please do the following:
 
Breathe in through your nose and count in your head 1,2,3, 4 ….. as long as you can inhale, then exhale through your mouth and count in your head 1,2,3,4, 5 …. as long as you can until you have exhaled fully. Now repeat this a few times, I usually recommend 5-10 deep breathes. Good, now how do you feel? A little more relaxed? A little less stressed? A little more focused?

So many of us fall into the trap of the routine. Routines help us function in our everyday life. If we had to make a new decision about everything, everyday we’d go crazy. However, when we fall into the trap of routine, then time can fly by without us noticing it and we miss being present in the moment. For anyone who practices mindfulness, or has read some Buddhist philosophy, you will know how important it is to be in the moment.

Especially now when the world is moving at such a faster pace. Even the big shot movie stars and other celebrities are talking about how they couldn’t be present or function optimally in their day without some sort of mindfulness practice. Now this blog post wasn’t originally going to be about mindfulness or meditation, it was actually supposed to be focused on getting back to school and balancing that routine with your health. However, considering how I too have noticed that September has flown by without having taken enough moments, enough time, to stop and simply breathe and enjoy the beauty of the world around me, I figured there were at least a few others out there feeling similarly to myself. 

Therefore, please, take this as your little hint or reminder to find the moments. The moments when your child just runs up and hugs you spontaneously for no particular reason, the moments when your spouse comes home from work and kisses you and says I love you, the moments when your pet is bounding around like a maniac because they’re overjoyed that you’ve returned from wherever your were. These are the moments that make your life, your life. If we do not observe them, take part in them fully then we are not living, not in the truest sense of the word. Get off the “I’m busy being busy train” with me for a few moments now, and just breathe. Thirty seconds to a minute is all it takes to start cultivating more awareness. You can always grow from there, after all isn’t that what life is all about?

KEEP ON GROWING! If I can help you with this or any other aspect of your health you’re looking to improve, you know where to find me ;)