Desert Magnolia

This whole vacation thing is growing on me. Today my big accomplishment (everything is relative), was getting out of my pjs, into yoga pants and a sweatshirt, picking up takeout salads, then coming back home and getting back into my pj bottoms. Seriously. Yes, I worked a little. But in my pjs. And son and I watched the new Spider Man movie, which was a terrible waste of almost 2 hours and we're sad we won't get that time back. And then he and I watched several episodes of Ally McBeal, though we both fell asleep during the 3rd episode so we'll have to rewatch that I guess. My face is washed, my teeth are brushed, and I am violating no personal hygiene rules, but I have to say, this whole hanging out in one's pj's for ALL DAY? Is a wonderful way to go.

I think it's fundamentally unfair that time can accelerate or decelerate at will. It's not a skill we humans can wrangle, but we're caught in the flow and it can be nausea inducing at times. Or just annoying, like it is right now. Being on break between terms in a program that has decided trimesters are the be all end all? Is like coming up for just enough air after a dive to fill your lungs once before you're pushed waaaay down into the depths again. I almost feel like I can't relax, because just when I remember what it feels like to NOT be behind, to NOT have to study, to NOT owe someone something in terms of brilliance or memorizing or constant deliverables...it'll be time to shine and regurgitate facts and deliver. Again. As I write this, I'm reminded of PTSD stories and don't want to spend too much time considering whether the program I've undertaken is traumatizing me in some deep and dark way, and that I will emerge somehow..different, ...

My job requires I do lots of research on spa, health, wellness, relaxation, mind/body connection, and other really amazing topics. This is one of the things I love most about it. I love learning how to make life better by practicing simple, time-tested methods. The simplest, and one we all can easily practice just about anywhere, just about anytime, and it's completely free, is engaging our breath. Just breathe. Sit quietly, comfortably, and up tall. Close your eyes, take a long, deep breath in, then slowly let it out. Don't force. Just relax, focus on the breath in, relax on the breath out. Repeat 10 times. If you're not significantly more focused, centered and relaxed after that, do another set. Simple, balancing acts practiced as often as possible can net enormous results in terms of reduced stress, overall calm, and a heightened sense of well being. So breathe with me.