This one is short because I know you're busy,
And because sometimes the most radical thing you can do is stop just for a few moments and actually breathe.
So that's what we're going to do.
Wherever you are,
Just stop.
Put the phone down if you haven't already.
Put the to-do list down mentally.
Close the tabs in your mind,
The ones that are all still open from as soon as you opened your eyes this morning.
None of them are going anywhere.
They'll be there when we're done.
Take a breath in,
Nice and slow.
And another one,
And out,
Even slower.
Let your out-breath be longer than your in-breath.
One more.
I want to say something to you that maybe nobody said to you today.
You are allowed to rest.
And not when everything's done,
Not when you've earned it,
But right now,
As you are,
In the middle of everything,
You are allowed to rest.
Rest is not laziness.
Rest is not weakness.
In every tradition,
In every cycle I've ever studied,
Rest is a necessary,
Sacred,
Non-negotiable part of being alive.
The moon herself goes dark every month.
The seasons include winter.
There is no mythology in which the sun never sets.
You are not built for constant output.
Nobody is.
Notice your shoulders.
Are they up near your ears?
And let them drop.
Notice your jaw.
Is it clenched or tight?
Let it go.
Notice your hands.
Are they gripping something?
Just soften them.
And take three breaths with me.
In.
And hold gently.
And then release.
And in.
And hold gently.
And release.
And for the next few moments of quiet and music,
You have absolutely nothing to do.
You're not behind.
You're not failing.
You're definitely not wasting your time.
You are a human being who needed a moment,
And you gave yourself one.
That's actually quite impressive.
And let your body relax into that for a moment now.
Take one more slow breath in.
And as you breathe out,
Let your whole body soften just a little bit more.
And when you go back to your day,
Take this breath with you.
We can always use the breath as a little bit of space around us,
As a buffer.
Remember,
Take a breath before you respond,
Before you react,
Before you make any decision.
You are always allowed to take one breath.
The world can wait a moment.
You yourself matter more than the rush.
So go gently.
And thank you for sharing this precious space with me today.
Have a wonderful day.
