I’m sure as I ask that question your mind can quickly rattle off a trillion things you don’t have but would like to.  But I’m using it differently here. Let me explain. Do you have a toothache right now? If not, did you notice how fortunate you are not to have a toothache right now? Probably not but I bet wasn’t what you were thinking about.

The other day I was caught in a whirlwind of activity and a schedule that was a little too busy for my liking. Never mind the fact that I have a pretty consistent mindfulness and breathing practice: when we hit the rabbit hole of stress, we are all likely to fall in. 

You may have noticed that when you feel anxious or overwhelmed your focus becomes very narrow, like looking through tunnel vision and down at the end you can see…. threat! Although you may not evaluate it this way, your amazing body goes into a stress response that resembles approaching danger. It’s very hard to see anything else as your body does not want to be eaten by the oncoming tiger (aka shopping list, nasty relative, busyness). 

Becoming mindful does indeed help us to see the big picture during these times, along with a full stomach, a good night’s sleep and exercise which also helps.  But I realized something else that might help: when things are good, we take it for granted and we don’t realize what we DON”T have. We don’t all have war, hunger, severe poverty, no computer (you have one!), no friends, loss of limbs etc. etc. etc. Now this might seem strange to think ‘well at least I don’t have (blank) but it actually is true. There are so many situations we could be facing that we are not.

I don’t mean put on rose-coloured glasses and pretend everything is great when it’s not. I mean, look at what you don’t have to get seriously, ridiculously,  honestly grateful for what you do have. Maybe it’s not what you have to do today, but what you get to do today.

I hope this is helpful for you at this time of year when many awesome and not-so-awesome demands are coming your way.

I have a super surprise for you this week. At our mindfulness class I often hear comments on how the energy of the group practicing together is very tangible, uplifting and well, energetic! This got me thinking. What if we could practice together as a group, as a community, as a world? Well, I’ve put together a gift for you as we enter the next year. It’s a global meditation on January 1st, 2018. All you have to do is click on the link to sign up and we will ‘meet’ online on New Year’s Day with people from all over the world to practice together, set an intention for the next year and shift ourselves and the world toward a better, healthier and more peaceful year in 2018. I hope you will join me. Check it out right here:

ONE BREATH TOGETHER GLOBAL MEDITATION FOR PEACE: WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER

Other Notes:

Last Mindfulness Class this Thursday!  We resume on January 18th, 2018. I will have my book for sale again this week.

Last Breathe to Heal: Monday 8-9pm at Kula Wellness. $15 drop-in. Come and get ready for the week with a full hour of breathwork, mindfulness and relaxation. 

Have a great week and maybe I will see you somewhere along the path,

Madeleine