Breathe

The things that overwhelm me are the things I invite into my life. My calendar overflows with work, and personal and social obligations. Most overwhelming are the regular life events like being on time for various appointments, scheduling appointments, returning voicemail and email messages, etc. Weirdly, catastrophes don't throw me off my center. Perhaps I haven't met a catastrophe big enough, but when tragedy comes I somehow feel like I'm "dealing with it."

I've decided it's because tragedies require focus and they are not optional. Tragedies demand attention and I give it my fullest, ride it through, even if it's on a wave of tears.

The nit-picky, mundane details of living a grown-up life can potentially flatten me. Most of the time I win. There are several pages of to-do lists strewn about my office and home with precisely drawn cross-out lines. Victory for me.

Then, truthfully, there are some days those pages stay tucked away. Blame it on laziness, distraction, boredom, and all of the above.

I hoped by writing this post that a magical affirmation would float from the sky and gently land in my lap. "Oh Great Universe, what is the solution to cure my overwhelm?"

Silence. I only hear the breath flowing through my body. It's as if the Universe is saying, "There is the answer. Slow down and breathe."

Usually, when I follow that advice, clarity surely wins. I keep myself accountable for the most urgent and release the pressure from needing to do it all today. There's always tomorrow and if tomorrow doesn't come, I think I will be glad that I didn't waste time on the unimportant.

That's my affirmation for today. Always subject to change.....