Heads Up

These past few weeks I have felt a bit battered by conflict and stress. Too often I have been distracted by thought and missed an exit on our expressway or found myself walking down an aisle in the supermarket wondering how I got there. A few nights ago as I walked down the stairs from my aikido dojo, I realized that my head was bowed and I was oblivious of the people I had passed. I took a deep breath, raised my head, realigned my posture, and experienced an immediate shift in my awareness and added lightness in my steps.

We have a choice every minute of every day. We can choose to be present in the moment or lost in thoughts about the past and anticipation of the future. Those who dwell in the past or future, never are fully there to savor the day, to give themselves fully to others in conversations, or to focus on issues, topics, projects before them. It is an irony that the best way to be ready for tomorrow is to stay present today.

Getting centered helps you to stay present in the moment. If you catch yourself bowed in thought, pause, breathe, raise your head and center. Take in your surroundings, acknowledge those present, and then address the issues at hand. If you feel yourself drifting back into thought, get up and move about a bit if you are seated. If you are walking, change your pace. Do something that brings you back to the moment.

Breathing in, I center Breathing out, I let go of cares Breathing in, I acknowledge my vision Breathing out, I connect with my surroundings

Judy Warner