May I have a second of your time?

As I sit out on the newly constructed lower portion of my deck, I feel a sense of peace and tranquility trickle over me. There is just something about being outside on a summer morning, listening to the birds chirp and sing. The cool crisp in the air, bathing you in a new fresh start of a day.

How many times do we take opportunities, like I have this morning, for granted? Unfortunately the number for myself is a bit larger than one would hope, even though I do try to not let these opportunities pass me by. In the hustle and bustle of the world it is all too easy to forget to take time for yourself. To take some minutes, even moments, to yourself and breathe. Feel the movement of the air, wherever you may be. Close your eyes, for longer than a blink, and find your center. Be grateful for this moment.

Some of you will say that it isn’t easy for you to feel and find your center… Not at first it won’t be. Not until you can let everything go in that moment. To cultivate the motion of taking time for yourself. It is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. Can you recall a time when you experienced that moment of peace and solitude? Maybe you were surrounded by your family and friends, or “sittin’ on the dock of the bay” (or other bodily water; a pool even), or maybe in a field covered in snow that has not been touched by a soul. Those quiet moments do matter and most times we are so quick to jump to the next item on our list to accomplish, because “only then, once it is all finished and done we can finally rest.” We know better than that though. Our list never is truly complete, with additions from life that still keeps going. Which is a good sign of a life filled with moments that you can be grateful for. After all you are still among the rest of us, maneuvering around in the best possible way you know how to.

So, my friends - come take a quiet moment with me. To just be. To be present. To not worry about what happened in the past and what is to come in the future. Let go of your fists, loosen your grasp on life just a bit. Even better, fully immerse yourself in the now. If you are sitting, feel the seat of the chair supporting your bum and bottom of the spine. Sit up a little straighter. If standing, feel your feet in your shoes. Give them a little wiggle if you can, and let that rise up through your body. Do a little jig and shake out the gunk. Let go of all that is stressing you out and holding you back. Remember to not let those opportunities pass you by.

“Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.” - Epictetus

SEEKING

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ONDER

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SAMANTHA Y OCIUS CREATIVE MEDIA