The willingness to pause for 30 entire seconds

This #thankyouthursday I am grateful for the willingness to pause for 30 entire seconds.

If that doesn’t sound like a long time, consider that it likely took you less than 10 seconds to read this sentence.

In fact, I used to write copy for radio ads, so I have a decent grasp of how many words can fit in the space of 30 seconds, and only right about now, maybe, just possibly, especially if you are reading slow, 30 seconds might have passed since you opened up this message.

All of which is to say, 30 seconds can seem long, especially when I’m pressing pause.

It is hard for me to press pause.

There is always something I think I can or should be doing, so the choice of “nothing” is always bold.

And I am always so grateful when I choose nothing.

This morning, for example, when the babysitter finally arrived and I finally retreated to my office to start working, I sat at my desk and realized I had so many tasks that I wasn’t sure where to start.

So I put my face into my hands, pressed my fingertips into my eyelids, and breathed in slowly, filling up my belly. Then I breathed out slowly, emptying my belly.

Then I took another slow, deep breath. I breathed out again.

At this point I thought maybe 30 seconds had passed, but I also knew from prior experience that I was probably wrong about that. So I took one more conscious breath, followed by another exhale.

Was everything different? Did my sense of overwhelm and stress completely vanish?

No. But I did feel refreshed. Calmer. And I could see my next step.

Love > fear,
Christina

p.s. I wouldn’t call it plagiarism, exactly, but the way I described taking those breaths closely mirrors the language from a book I read aloud so often I’ve memorized it. To that end, if you have young kids or know any, I highly recommend Meditation.