One Simple Thing: Rest Your Mind

Today I was working on my new book, and my head was swimming.  I needed to take the dogs out but didn’t want to get up because I felt I had to keep working.  So much to do!  Deadlines!  I can’t afford to take a break right now!

Fortunately, doggie bladders don’t follow the demands of my thoughts.  They had to go.  I had to stop.  I got up and took them out, and at some point looked up from the sidewalk long enough to notice the leaves of our big oak tree as they moved with the summer breeze.  For that moment, I was distracted from my frantic thinking mind.  I just saw what was in front of me.  My body automatically took a couple of deep breaths.  It knew exactly what to do.  All I had to do was let it happen and pay attention.  I walked the dogs down the street a bit, intentionally seeing the trees, the grass, the blue of the sky. I felt the breeze on my skin.

I got home and sat down at my computer, and I was so much calmer.  The deadlines were still there, but my thinking mind was subdued and my heartbeat was slower.  The whole thing took seven minutes.

Rest your mind.  Set aside your thinking mind and simply notice what is right there where you are.  Let your body breathe.  Let peace take over for a moment.

Peace,

Leslie