If your life is anything like mine — or most of society, really! — then you know what it’s like to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. Projects, commitments, reminders, to-do lists … all of it can fly through your mind and your day at warp speed, and it’s all you can do to keep up with it sometimes.

Today I want to invite you to breathe in the midst of all that.

Take a moment and close your eyes. Notice the thoughts and concerns running through your mind. Just pay attention and notice what’s there. Are you worried about the day? A project? What might happen in this or that relationship?

Now, take a moment to breathe. Take a deep breath in, hold it for a moment, and then slowly exhale.
Do it again. Breathe in … then slowly breathe out.

Next, pay attention to the things you hear as you slowly breathe in and out with your eyes closed. A bird singing in a tree down the street … water running in the other room … someone shaving … someone mowing their lawn … a car driving by with a very loud muffler … leaves rustling on the roof … someone working on their front porch construction … a printer pushing pieces through its feeder.

What do you hear? Pay attention. Notice the source of life in each of those things. What human or animal creature is connected to that noise? Take a moment to consider that source of life. Offer your gratitude and good intention toward that person or creature in this moment you share with them, just noticing they are there.

And then, very gently, open your eyes.