What a whirlwind my life has been lately! Stress from the overwhelm was present on this Saturday morning. I have been struggling with brain chaos, heart dissonance because of decisions that have been made and need to be made. All of this cumulated to very little rest over the past week. It was evident to me this morning that I need to “find time” to refuel somehow. My husband Steve suggested a hike at Devil’s Lake State Park. I eagerly agreed, because I love water and movement would be helpful to reduce my stress.
It is said that water is the source of all life, and without water all life would cease to exist. That is an accepted fact, right? Water does sustain all living things.
What we often forget is that we can go without any water for approximately three days. We cannot go without oxygen for more than 4 to 6 minutes before permanent damage starts to happen to our brain.
As I stepped out of the car at the lake, the first thing that I noticed was the cool breeze and the sounds of birds in the air all around us. The air was alive with sounds of nature. The air was unseen and yet refueling my soul with its presence in that instant.
I began to think about the gift of the next breath and nothing more. Each step along the lake added movement to my body as I began to breathe more quickly, and my pulse quickened. I knew that the flat terrain would be replaced with a hard climb up the steep hill on my return. And yet, I focused on my next breath and my next step.
Being present in the moment calmed my racing thoughts from the week. The “what ifs” and “shoulds” now quieted and replaced with, “I can do this”. The concentration on breath was bringing clarity, breath by breath. The pause in breath brought forward my intuition, which I needed to hear.
The climb to the top seemed daunting at first. This was the first time up the slippery purple quartz steps with my new artificial hip. Fear of failure was present and yet kept at arm’s length because I kept going one step and one breath at a time. Trust me, climbing up the west bluff, made me dig deeper and deeper for each breath in order to fuel my muscles.
I made it. I succeeded. I refueled a part of me that needed it most.
I am thankful for the gift of the air that I breathe.
In thinking about the gift of breath, I am also cognizant of the vibrations that I put into the air in the form of words. The air that we breathe is the carrier of the words that have the power to heal or to hurt. Choose words wisely.
The air that I breathe is the same as yours.
Enjoy the rest of summer, one breath at a time. Take a moment to just breathe, notice it, be grateful for it, be present with it, receive clarity through it, be refueled by it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Contact me:
chartline@rwhc.com
608-644-3235
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Cella Janisch-Hartline, RN, BSN, PCC Professional Certified Coach, Nursing Leadership Senior Manager for Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative has been involved in various healthcare industry leadership positions for the past 40 years. The majority of her career has been spent working in an acute care critical access facility for nearly 25 years. Throughout her work experience, she has learned most of her leadership skills and techniques through the school of “hard knocks”. Cella’s passion for teaching leadership tips and techniques earned her the 2018 Outstanding Educator Award through the National Rural Health Association. She is well-known for her humorous, engaging and personable facilitation style. |