Find a place to settle wherever you are.
However much time you've got right now.
There's something about this time of year.
The longer days,
The warmth,
The tendency to make joy a little easier to reach.
So I wanted to offer you a few minutes of it.
On purpose.
Take a breath in.
And let it out slowly.
Let yourself smile.
Even just a little bit.
Even if nothing's particularly funny.
Sometimes the body just needs the invitation before the feelings catch up.
I love this practice.
The simple,
Almost silly magic of just breathing on purpose for a few minutes,
Smiling on purpose,
Not fixing anything.
I'm not processing anything.
Just doing it.
Because it feels good.
Breathe in again.
And let it go.
Notice one small pleasant thing right now.
Warmth on your skin.
Sound nearby.
Or just the fact that you paused today.
For this.
Joy doesn't actually need a reason.
We tend to act like it does.
Like it has to be.
Earned or scheduled photograph to count.
But joy was never waiting for any of that.
Always been available in the small.
.
.
Unremarkable moments the whole time.
We're just often moving too fast to notice it.
Mindfulness at its simplest is.
.
.
Just that.
Noticing.
Not striving towards some peaceful,
Perfect version of yourself?
Just being.
Where you already are.
What if for just these few minutes.
.
.
There's nothing to live up to.
No expectation to meet.
Just this breath.
This moment.
Exactly as ordinary or as lovely.
As it already is.
Take another breath in.
I'm out.
Let your shoulders soften.
A little bit.
Your jaw softened.
Just because it feels nice.
Your hands,
Wherever they're resting.
See if you can find one small piece of beauty right where you are.
Not the kind you need to travel for or plan around.
The kind that's simply already here.
Waiting to be noticed.
Rather than chased.
Now one more breath in.
And then it's time to let the exhale be a little extra.
A sad sighing sigh.
Kind you let out on purpose just because it feels good.
Breathing big.
Let it go with the sound,
If you want.
Let's do one more just for fun.
And out.
Wherever you go from here.
Carry a little bit of this lightness with you.
Not because you fixed anything.
But because you took a few minutes on purpose.
To notice the joy and beauty that were already here.
That's reason enough.
