Point of Stillness

The pause at the end of each exhalation is a powerful, magical, valuable moment. Although the pause may last only a second or two, it provides a moment of beautiful quiet for your mind, your body and your spirit. You can take advantage of this special pause but resist any temptation to extend any pause beyond its natural length. To override this timing is like grabbing a soap bubble so it can’t float away.

Experiment by selecting in advance a positive word that you repeat silently to yourself during the pause. Or focus on a healing image. This is also an amazing time to simply listen and be open.

This brief moment brings you to your deepest self. That is why the temptation is so great to extend it. Although Point of Stillness is a delicate and simple exercise it is surprisingly effective.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

Not Born To Formaldehyde

The design of the human body is a work in progress. The species adapts and changes very slowly, taking thousands of years to show measurable change. Perhaps in 75,000 years man will have very thin fingers to meet the demands of tiny keyboards. He may have huge flat feet that double as flippers when all the icebergs have melted. His larger nose will help to filter out the increasing air pollution that he will surely face. But for now . . . .

We cannot begin to accommodate all of the indoor chemicals to which we are exposed (even though our respiratory systems have some extraordinary built-in protection). Until recently humans lived with all natural materials. They traveled only as far as the horse could carry them so they rarely had the respiratory shock of exotic materials. They spent long hours outside hunting, gathering, planting, ploughing.

Eventually, costly global health disasters will force governments, builders and manufacturers to select non-toxic and sustainable materials. The improvement probably won’t be complete in our lifetime. Even then, older homes and older office buildings will continue to put out toxic gases. In the meantime, be a force for change in the marketplace and get outside whenever possible to break your chronic exposure.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

Flushing

I sometimes wish I had picked a more delicate subject to blog about – arranging flowers, or folding napkins or decorating cupcakes. While these are all worthwhile pursuits, I know absolutely nothing about any of them so I plan to stick with “mindful breathing” even when that means dealing with a relatively gross subject like toilet flushing.

If we could make each cold and virus bug visible to the human eye, you would faint the next time you walked into your john.

1. At least once a week, make a quick swipe of all knobs and handles with a disinfectant wipe.
2. We’ve already brought the subject of hand washing to a high art.
3. Know that when you flush the toilet you set loose a momentary mist that you want no part of. See? Aren’t you already longing for a napkin to fold? Just don’t lean directly over the toilet bowl when you flush! Turn your face away and stretch out your arm as long as possible.

Gentlemen, you move the seat up and down more than we do so please take extra care with the hand washing. I’m going away now to decorate a cupcake (after washing my hands).

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

Old? Not Yet.

Mother Nature seems to give the human body a get-out-of-jail-free pass during the baby-making years. Almost immediately thereafter, everything shifts into High-Maintenance Mode. Can you imagine eating, drinking and dancing the night away like you did at 18?! After age 35 we have passed through the grace period when almost everything is forgiven and we must begin to earn the body we want and need.

Increasing signs of aging can be disheartening especially for those of us who survived the 50s where physical appearance was everything. Absolutely everything. Health, comfort and common sense all took a back seat in those days.

1. You have the power to slow the physical aging process so you are less likely to run out of tread before you run out of road. Improving your quality of life takes research and discipline. We are incredibly fortunate to be born in the era of Internet access and impressive medical studies.
2. Although the body begins to break down too soon after birth, both the mind and the spirit are designed to evolve and thrive regardless of age. There is an exquisite beauty and power that can bloom even in a frail body but we can’t simply hope for the best.

Your breathing is unique because it provides relatively easy access to your mind, to your body and to your spirit. Breathing awareness brings body awareness. Breathing awareness brings mental clarity. Breathing awareness brings joy to the spirit.

Be as well as possible. Breathe beautifully.