Driving home from a morning swim at the YMCA, I always take a back road that winds through the woods. It’s a beautiful route but, if you hit it during rush hour, there’s a steady stream of cars heading to work.
One morning last week, I was driving home on this road just after a spring rain and noticed a female deer crossing the road in front of me. I slowed and then, since I always think if there’s one deer there’s probably more, I stopped my car and paused for a moment.
A few seconds later, a fawn emerged. It was still getting used to walking and was a bit unsteady on its skinny legs. It had to be just a few weeks old. Slowly and hesitantly, this baby deer crossed the slippery asphalt.
Fortunately, at the time, no other cars were coming in the opposite direction, and a police cruiser was stopped behind me. I was grateful that the officer did not get a dispatch call and need to rush around me on this narrow suburban road.
I watched as the baby joined its mother. The mother stopped, and our eyes met. Everything had happened so fast, and I breathed a sigh of relief that I had not been rushing and inadvertently hit the gas before I saw that little baby. I felt tears in my eyes.
I invite you to practice a bit of Mindfulness by placing a pause right now in your day. Just exhale and notice how that feels in your body. Notice the weight of your body wherever you are sitting or standing. Notice if your shoulders are relaxed or up around your ears. If you are sitting, try standing up and taking a quick stretch. Move in whatever way feels comfortable for you.
And now, notice how you feel by just Placing a Pause in your day.
Above Photo credit: Robert Woeger on Unsplash
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