Sadie is resting at my side as I write this post. She has this hypnotic way of making me sleepy. She is so warm and soft and I find myself watching her breathe in deep breaths that fill her little belly, until taunt and then out in a gentle release, again and again.  Out through her sweet black nose.  In and out; in and out; in and out…  in rhymic patterns…  rising and falling. She is fully present and I am struck by that ability to be completely at peace. Perhaps that’s why we say, “It’s a dog’s life.” 

Then I think about us humans. The way we run ourselves ragged. Every day the race is on, you know what I mean? I began my day running out of the house to get to spin. Running to get to work. Running to drive my son to AP review. Running back to pick up him up from AP review. Running from the high school to the bank, then to Walgreens to buy a card. Running back home to make dinner and pre-pack and track breakfast and lunch for tomorrow.  The race is more like a marathon sprint and it’s still not done there is so much to do. Typical, almost frantic energy, that gets me through it.  All while I drink coffee, I chew gum, I listen to the radio, I play Netflix in the background just to keep myself going.

I really want to feel confident and have energy. I really want to be healthy.

So many points in this bag… but what do I want right now versus what do I really want.

I understand why people have a hard time trying to make lifestyle changes. There is just so much to do that it’s easy to let this slip lower and lower on the list until it’s completely gone. I see a teacher at work who has lost a tremendous amount of weight who is slowly gaining it back. She is a smart, talented woman who works really hard. She has a family and I totally understand this pattern lose weight, gain weight. I understand because I share that history. I hope she will figure it out for herself. We all know no one can do that work for you. That’s why this is a journey and not a destination. There is no arrival here, there is only the search for a better way of living our lives.

Yesterday, I received some bad news. My son’s former cub scout leader passed away. Our boys are now in 10th grade and I can’t begin to imagine the pain and grief that his family is feeling right now. This man made an important contribution to my son’s life. He was kind, he was generous, he taught the boys how to be responsible and thoughtful. We will be forever grateful that we had him in our lives – he made an impact on us all.

I think the best thing we can do is to make the most of our time while we have it. Perhaps how to best spend that time, comes to us by paying attention to small moments, and by reflecting on the many many relationships (big and small) that create the constructs for how we live our lives. Let’s just help each other be the best version of ourselves. This is the kind of world I want to live in. One where I live it in the best possible healthiest me I can deliver. Sound good? Well then, join me.