In NYC we are nearing the end of the school year. In other parts of the country, the first session of summer school has ended. For others, summer activities are ramping up. There is excitement for travel, summer get togethers, concerts in the park. Lincoln Center in NYC has launched their Summer for the City Series – performances, events, dance and more. If there wasn’t already so much to do before, there are many more options now.
Amidst all the fun, whether out in the city or home with the cats and Netflix, are you taking time to just breathe? To just be?
It sounds so simple. Breathing and being still but in reality, how often are you taking time to slow down and feel your breath for a few moments? A few minutes? We are breathing all the time but how often are you stopping to notice your breath?
Meditation is one way to just be and breath. But maybe meditating isn’t your jam. How about these:
- A morning sit next to the window, feeling your breath.
- Sitting on a bench in nature to listen to the birds and feel your breath.
- A minute sit when you get into car, feeling the heat or the coolness of the day.
- A designated time in your day…let’s say 3pm…to be still wherever you are, and feel your breath for 5 minutes.
- A family moment: Who can sit the longest, quietly counting their breath?
How will you make time to simply just be and just breathe this summer? Or how about right now?
About a month ago, we both made the conscious decision to do less, to make less plans and not have the calendar filled with activities. It wasn’t easy. We were breaking habits of ‘doing’, which is so easy to do. By slowing down, we began to feel more space in our lives and our souls. It allowed new ideas and creativity to emerge. Perhaps most importantly, it allowed space to just breathe, to just be.
It doesn’t take much to get started but it does require you to make the intention and have a plan to make it a reality. It could be an alarm on your phone, a scheduled time on your calendar, a commitment to share the “just be” moment with a friend or partner.
We hope you find a fun way to just be and breathe this summer.