Stillness Brings Value To The Forefront

As I inhale, and reflect on the day, I must admit that it is difficult at times to recall the way things used to be. The times when a phone call, could lead to a last minute dinner reservation with family. A knock on the door meant a surprise visit. An early evening conversation and simple arrangements meant: appetizers, great wine, and much laughter at a local restaurant because you were taking advantage of the Happy Hour and their specials. To do these things now means, being strategic. Even with having a plan in place, you might show up to your desired location and be unable to find a spot. With some businesses still closed, some open for less hours, and others not allowing a full capacity of patrons-you just never can be certain of what the end result might be.

What if someone in your group in not willing to follow the rules, or put on a required facial mask? Has it really been a year since COVID-19 hit, and brought about a change to life as we once knew it? Will this feeling of frustration ever pass? That is a question that is difficult to answer. Despite all the complexities which accompany this seemingly never ending pandemic, there is one discovery which I am reminded of daily. The impact of stillness, and the role it can play in our lives.

It first hit me one Saturday morning. Now, while I have always enjoyed having "me time," I feel like in many ways I was somehow missing the true value of it. After awaking at what I thought was an earlier than usual time, I discovered it was actually 9:00am. The strange thing is I heard no noise. It was quiet in my home, as I was the sole individual awake. There were no sounds of cars passing by, airplanes flying overhead, birds chirping, or the neighbor kids running in their backyard chasing their dogs. In fact, I had to shake my head and wonder for a minute if everyone had left and forgotten to to tell me they were leaving. I sat in my stillness, momentarily taking it all in. Glancing around I embraced the peace. I slowly exhaled, again and again. Welcoming the feeling of relaxation. It was then that I realized this was something that I had been missing. I just didn't know I had, or how much I needed it. I sat there for 30 minutes doing absolutely nothing but breathing slowly.

I have come to appreciate the value that stillness adds to each day, and ensure that I take advantage of these moments whenever I can. The calm, clarity, and stress reduction it brings is welcoming. Why was I missing out on this before? I think sometimes if we are not moving at a rapid pace, or dealing with overscheduled calendars we are viewed as not having anything important going on. But, COVID- 19 has shown many of us that this is not the case. Caring for oneself does demonstrate true value, and this is one thing that we need to include at the top of our calendar. Not just during a pandemic, but all the time.