This Again

For the last month I have had to keep reminding myself to drop back into "now". We are moving in 27 days, went to Cuba when everything was all up in the air. The practice of reminding myself of now is constant. Yesterday I was messaging with a couple friends, on of whom is over worked, has too much to do at work and feels like she is barely keeping her head above the water. She is going on holidays at the end of the month and was dreading how much work she would come back to.

I told her about my practice when I notice myself worrying about all the things I need to do. I stand with my feet hip width apart, even weight, and take a deep breath and think "now". Repeat as needed until I am back to this moment and not somewhere in the future. Sometimes this is on a walk, sometimes just in my kitchen. But that sensation of grounding down through my feet and slowing my breath and thinking "I have this breath and the next and that is all I need to do" seems to help centre me.

It helped me get thought going to Cuba when things were uncertain, and then while I was there to sit with the Cubans I met and be present to what they were going through with compassion and kindness. It helped when our flight was cancelled on the way home and we had to trust that the airline would get us out. I have found myself able to cope with all the stressors that have come my way in the last month. And it has helped me with packing and moving when I am over tired.

When we spend our time in our heads worrying about the future, we become anxious, nervous, and full of worry. Planning for every possible contingency. When we ruminate about the past we become full of regret, maybe depressed, or nostalgic. When we make our choices in the present and well maybe near present we are more able to take care of ourselves and keep our tanks full. We make better informed decisions. This is where I try to be.

And my mantra for that is to Narayanaya. And we have chanted it before.

Om Namo Narayanaya

You can hear me chant it 108 times here.

My New Home.