I am a practised wait-er. I would like to say an expert but I sharpen my waiting skills all the time.
When I was a working wait-er I was a do-er, I would carry notes to be read, minutes to be drafted, reports to be edited. Then I stopped work but was still in full bag mode. A bag stuffed with magazines, a novel or two. I tried to read away my rapid heart beat and sweaty palms as I waited to be called in...
Since I started writing my Blog I carry a note book too, to jot down new material or a sound bite snatched from a conversation to use at a later date. But I find that anxiety is not a good companion to writing, ideas get stuck like cars in a traffic jam.
Today as I sit in the hospital waiting room, my mind chatters like children whispering behind their hands. I take a deep breath and blow the air out, sometimes two of these changing breaths help me calm my mind.
But, like a rapid river, the words keep flowing....I don't know why you are even thinking of having this surgery...the Blog Award tickets go on sale today...I must get a walk in...loose some weight...remember to ring Sue....should I go ahead with the surgery or not...
So I call in Ruby Wax, who has given me a bag of tools to Tame my Mind.
I lower my eyes to the floor, plant my feet on the ground and free my back from the curve of the chair. Then I ask myself what am I feeling?
I lead my thoughts mindfully from my head to my toes, I stop at my belly.
A fist like knot is screwed up tight. There sits the cause of my river of words.
I breathe into the knot then as I breathe out I imagine the knot melting away. I breathe in and out slowly and like a large cloud dissipating watch the knot reduce. I breathe in again and as I breathe out watch the small clouds start to move away.
As I pull my breath into my lungs, my thoughts are now entirely focused on the space that was taken up by the knot.
In its place is a beautiful blue sky...
I open my eyes and smile.
I lower my eyes to the floor, plant my feet on the ground and free my back from the curve of the chair. Then I ask myself what am I feeling?
I lead my thoughts mindfully from my head to my toes, I stop at my belly.
A fist like knot is screwed up tight. There sits the cause of my river of words.
I breathe into the knot then as I breathe out I imagine the knot melting away. I breathe in and out slowly and like a large cloud dissipating watch the knot reduce. I breathe in again and as I breathe out watch the small clouds start to move away.
As I pull my breath into my lungs, my thoughts are now entirely focused on the space that was taken up by the knot.
In its place is a beautiful blue sky...
I open my eyes and smile.
"The best cure for the body is a quiet mind"
Napoleon Bonaparte
