Namaste

I guess I tend to think of the Digital Sabbatical as one, long yoga session. When you first start (or at least, whenever I start a yoga class), my mind is definitely not quiet. I am usually late, rushing in as everyone else has already started their first pose. My heart is racing, I am embarrassed as everyone stares at me getting out my mat, I am not quite ready to be there. My to do list is running through my head, over and over as I try to focus on my breathing, and my mind wanders even though the entire point of yoga is to get your brain to shut up already. I’m sad to admit, sometimes it takes the entire class before I just stop. STOP. And sit. And listen. And quiet all the noise and chatter. Usually, it is somewhere in the last ten minutes that I am really and truly present in that moment, listening to my body and disappearing into the sounds of bells and soft music and deep breaths.

Then the lights go up, the instructor says “Namaste” and I think to myself, “I need to do this more often.”

That’s how this year’s Sabbatical was to me. I was so crazy, running around like a madwoman for the first week or so, and then, I just stopped. Listened to my own breath. Took in each moment.

And before I knew it, it was August 1.

*Photo by Lucy*