Pause is my word for this year.
Especially with all of the emotional stops and starts we’ve all experienced during his pandemic, I need to get off that roller coaster. So, I’m going to be more deliberate about starting and stopping by pausing. Just because I’m ready for all of this to be OVER it’s not. So, I’m practicing the pause.
And sometimes, that means planning for the pause. Many in NC are preparing for winter weather this weekend. Although we’re not expecting much ice/snow where I live, we are expecting a lot of cold rain. Thanks to Tom, I have plenty of firewood.
So, this afternoon and evening, I’ll be pausing near a cozy fire with a good book and much gratitude.
How have you practiced pausing lately?
Lisa’s Cheap Therapy blog 
Maybe not pausing exactly, but this week working on eating my meals mindfully and slowly (remembering, Lisa, your story about chewing a bite of Jello 20 times with Thich Nhat Hanh!) I am proud to say I have eaten without an electronic aid for distraction for almost all week. And I am slowing down. Two days ago I started lighting candles on the table for dinner and extinguishing them when I finished. I am slowing down enough to savor, not “inhale”, my meals. These three pauses in my day for mindful eating have really made my meals into occasions, increased my enjoyment of my food, and showed me something about eating my fill before the plate is clean.
Eating mindfully really can have a wonderful impact, can’t it? I especially celebrate your candle ritual! Thanks for letting us know about it, Penny.