Just Be.....

This is a hard skill to master. I have to remind myself to do this every so often. I find taking a walk (which I haven't done in a long time) and trying to empty my head of almost every thought is very helpful in trying to master Just Being. I look around, notice everything, breathe in slowly, purposely and deeply, can you smell flowers, or grapes, or the Autumn air?... breathe out slowly... listen to the sounds; birds, airplanes, rustling of the leaves, animals, insects....try to keep your mind from spreading out, refocus, force yourself to just be in the moment. We are all so busy! We speed ahead into the future wishing for things and events, or worrying about them. We drag ourselves into the past and mull around in regret and unforgiveness. Just living in the present is sometimes the most difficult thing to do. Yet, when we do live in the present, priorities sort themselves out, our hearts are open to inspiration, we can live each day satisfied if it were our last. Maybe that is impossible. There are many interruptions throughout our days. Is it selfish to create a little Me time? Something that was shared years ago by a woman in the neighborhood that I grew up in was this: X out some time on your calendar, so that things don't fill up every second. Then, when someone asks if you can do something during that time or on that day you look at the X and respond honestly, "I already have something then". Another way to control your calendar is to make it a habit to say, let me check my calendar and I will get back to you. Then you won't feel pressure to just always say "yes". Calendars fill up completely if we let them. I don't do yoga, but people I know that do it, love it! Any ideas out there for how to JUST BE?