“Within you there is a stillness and sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.”
Herman Hess, Siddhartha
A few days ago, I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about someone. Generally when this happens, I feel like I’m supposed to take a couple of minutes and pray for them, and that’s just what I did before dozing off again.
When I woke up again (for good this time), I was feeling great. The sun was just coming up, the air was warm, the birds were singing, and there was a great peace all around me.
With coffee in hand, I headed outside by back door to my little prayer space. Sitting down in one of the comfortable chairs, I looked around. The lilacs are in full bloom, and the air was heavy with their scent. Nothing much else is blooming, but the lilacs and their powerful odor are enough. Everything seemed right.
As I sat there, I realized how busy I’ve been, and came to realize that I haven’t been taking enough quiet time for myself. These days, I seem to be going a mile a minute, seven days a week.
This little pause at the beginning of my day really boosted my spirit and I had a surge of energy. Just a 15 minute pause did it for me.
How have you been feeling lately? Energized or exhausted? Peaceful or anxious?
Here’s my prescription for you: Build a break in your day, each and every one of them. Your pause need only be five or ten minutes. With the weather getting nice, just about everyone reading this should be able to get out a bit and enjoy the spring.
By the way, when you take your little pause, please don’t think about everything you need to get accomplished as soon as your break is over. Clear your mind, and just “be”. I hope it works as well for you as it did for me.
