It has somehow become a badge of honor to hustle through life,
Taking quick sips of air to fuel our bodies and minds as we spin along the hamster wheel of what we've deemed to be a successful life.
From sunup to sundown,
Day after day,
We run,
We race,
We rally,
Climbing an invisible ladder to an unknown,
Unreachable destination.
For many,
It's all we know,
To strive for more,
To reach higher,
To run and run and run,
Rushing from one task to another,
Placing mental checkmarks on a never-ending list of to-dos.
No time to breathe,
No time to dance,
No time,
No time,
Until one day we really do run out of time.
We'll take our last breaths as we contemplate the life we lived,
And we realize with sadness we never slowed down long enough to truly enjoy it.
When we learn to slow our days down,
Quiet the rush,
Calm the buzzing,
We can find real joy and a simple bliss in even the most mundane of moments.
So let's take a few minutes to practice the slowing down into the present moment.
It can feel uncomfortable when we're not used to sitting in the silence,
To connecting with our feelings and our body,
So be patient with yourself.
Go ahead and close your eyes,
Sit up straight,
Straight back,
Soft belly.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth.
In through your nose,
Expanding,
Softening your belly,
Out through your mouth.
Let's slow down.
Let's be here.
Smell the earthy scent of the world after it's rained.
Hear the crunch of vibrant leaves under your feet while you breathe in the autumn air.
Feel the velvet hands of a newborn baby wrap around your finger.
Listen to thousands of tiny crickets sing their melody to the moon.
Remember a warm drink as it slides heat to your belly.
Smell the charcoally scent of a dripping mallow over the embers.
Feel the warm embrace of your favorite pair of cozy socks.
Step through the dewy grass of a misty morning.
Smile,
Really smile,
At someone you love and watch their eyes burn bright in return.
Tell that someone that you love them,
Not through passing,
But through locked eyes and an open heart.
Feel the icy bite of cold river water around your ankles and toes.
Watch tiny dust particles dancing in the misty morning sun rays.
Inhale the doughy scent of fresh baking bread.
Hear the pitter of tiny raindrops on an old tin roof.
Taste the sparkle of chilled snowflake on the tip of your tongue.
Feel the warmth of a hug envelop you from the one who really cares.
Release,
Let go of the buzzing need to do more,
Hurry faster,
Look ahead.
Instead replace those empty urges with the desire to be here,
Really be here,
Present in this moment,
Because our lives are made up of limited moments,
And if we spend every one of them rushed to move to the next,
Will we ever feel complete?
Will we ever find purpose or satisfaction in this thing we call life?
Slow down,
Bask in the highs,
Breathe through the lows,
Smile in the in-between monotonies of life,
Be here,
Slow down,
Be here.
Deep breath in,
I am here in the present moment.
Deep breath out,
The past and the future are insignificant pieces in time.
Deep breath in,
The only moment that matters is the here and now.
Deep breath out,
I am calm,
I am at peace,
I am content,
I am here.
Feel yourself here,
Your body,
Your beautiful body taking up space.
Feel your heart breathing,
I am here.
As we finish this meditation,
Allow yourself to come back to the room you're in.
Try to appreciate the present moment throughout your day.
It's so easy to let the hustle and bustle distract us,
Rushing from one task to the next,
Forgetting to slow down,
To breathe,
To take it all in.
Challenge yourself today,
Tomorrow,
Challenge yourself to take those moments,
To pause and notice,
To be here.
When you're ready,
Open your eyes,
Notice your surroundings with a new appreciation.
