1. Breathe Deeply
Enjoying the moment. Everyone says it, but who knows how to do it? I have lists of things
to do, things I must do and things I’m putting off doing… I want to enjoy the moment,
when my list is finished. But my list will never be finished; I will never arrive at “It’s all done!
I can relax!” – because there will always be something else added to the list.
One of the great things about working with children is that they are always in the moment.
They don’t have lists of things to do, they aren’t worrying about the mortgage, the traffic,
getting dinner ready – they are just living in their moment. They concentrate on what is in
front of them until they are done with it, and then they move on. Sometimes that
concentration is very, very short and sometimes it is impressively long. Most of the time it is
just enough to satisfy.
Fall is my favorite time of year. The beginning of the school year is always exciting and the
scents and sounds of autumn bring me such joy. I love the holidays, being with relatives,
cooking and sharing meals with the ones I love. But it is a rushed time of year. It’s not the
long, slow days of winter, waiting for the warmth and light of spring and it’s not the sheer
joy of summer, celebrating life with pure exuberance. Autumn is frenetic, it’s a rush to start,
a rush to finish and a rush in between. It is very challenging to slow down, breathe deeply,
and look – really look, at what’s around me.
And when I breathe really deeply, and look at what’s around me… I see children, living in
the moment.