Pause

A wise teacher once told me to notice the pauses, those quiet moments throughout the day.

She said those simple reminders will guide me. 

I didn’t fully understand the importance of a pause until I became a mother.

There was constant noise.  The baby’s cries.  The constant wails of my young children of “Mom Mom Mom” or “Mom, where is my ____? I can’t find it!”

There were endless amounts of responsibilities and tasks (doing laundry, making meals, etc).  I felt like I was constantly getting back up the moment after I sat down.

The noise and the responsibility of the kids were overwhelming.  I was continually distracted from what I was doing. 

SO. MUCH. STIMULATION. 

At night once the children were asleep, the house straightened up, the lights off, the doors locked and there was silence, then I could finally let out a sigh. 

This was the time for my pause. 

As I took my nightly shower and washed away the day, my mind was free to naturally unlatch and I could just BE. 

In the absence of sound, I realized what she meant... THIS was the pause.

For me, these moments of space require awareness and practice.

Pausing and practicing mindfulness is incredibly valuable in our daily lives.

What helps me most when I am immersed in a world with demands of life and with the kids all day are those simple pauses, those transitions that allow me to catch my breath. 

When I know I need to pause, I often go outside and look up at the beautiful sky. I plant my feet on the soft green grass and feel the sun radiating on my face. Here, I know I am so supported. 

Why?

When I can create space between the busy-ness of my mind or the BIG emotions, I am able to look within and gain strength, perspective, and clarity. Creating from a grounded state of being, the moments that follow are far more rich and peaceful.

The smallest pause in our day can transform everything.

Sending love through self care!