I leave tomorrow to teach at Quilting by the Lake. It’s a great place to meet up with like minded folks. We learn, we play and we come away with new ideas. Though I love teaching I am not fond of the actual transit time and energy it takes to get there and back. Airlines are clumsily fulfilling their promises. The seats on the planes defy the idea of comfort and delays and cancellations are to be expected. Needless to say it can be challenging to get off the plane with a good attitude.
A mantra for relief
Whenever I start feeling anxious, angry, itchy, or just plain mean I repeat: I can wait, I can wait, I can wait…..I can wait.
Like this Dove who is sitting on a nest above my back door in 100° heat. She is patient and calm regardless of her circumstances. I can wait.
When I start getting drawn into the news cycle I have to remind myself that the roller coaster of despair can be balanced by hope and good trouble. I can wait.
In Spring I looked for signs that the plants would survive the winter. And now the garden is completely overgrown. I waited and was rewarded.
When I am acting more like the White Rabbit muttering "Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!" I need to focus on how amazing the ride down the rabbit hole is instead. I can wait.
How do you calm your anxiety and impatience?
The simple phrase “I can wait” helps me focus on what is rather than what I want it to be. It’s a practice that brings balance to inevitable chaos.
I can wait.