I took this picture back in the Fall, when we were hiking through the nearby woods. The trip was just a nice pleasure outing. A time for me and my husband to enjoy the peace and solitude of the woods.
Today in conversation with a friend I was reminded of another time that I visited the woods. A time where I was feeling stressed and I needed to go to the woods so that I could breathe. I was telling my friend how they needed to take some time to breathe as well. They are at a crossroads in their life, a big decision needs made and they are feeling consumed by the pressure. They need some time to just breathe.
It was a couple years ago when I had driven to the woods with a heavy heart. Life had dealt us a huge blow and I was overwhelmed. I remember finding a log to sit on in the middle of the woods. I sat my weary body down and I soaked in the silence while staring at nature’s beauty around me. I sat for awhile , I walked for awhile , and my soul breathed. While doing these things my spirit became calm, as peace wrapped around me. My circumstances hadn’t changed, but I had. I had taken the time to slow down, to concentrate on the moment and to just breathe.
I believe we all have been there before. Times where decisions and our present circumstances weigh us down. Times where we wish we could be a child again, coloring under our blanket fort and eating chocolate chip cookies.
What do you do when you have a big decision weighing on your heart? What do you do when life deals you a severe blow and you don’t know where to turn?
We can become so consumed with feeling we need an answer that I feel we often neglect doing a very important thing. Taking a step back and giving ourselves time to breathe! It is sometimes in the silence when our heart speaks to us and tells us what we need to know. It is sometimes in the silence when the fog in our mind lifts and things become more clear.
Sometimes its not about wrestling with all the questions in your head for the thousandth time. Its not about figuring out how to unscramble the messed up alphabet in your head. Sometimes its only about one very important thing, and that one thing is taking time out to take care of you. Allowing yourself time to just breathe!
I’ve always found solace in music. When faced with sme very difficut decisions regarding life on the boat and the probems we were having, I went into a local restaurant and asked if I could play their piano for an hour! I felt better afterwards, and things have worked out OK.
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Music is definitely a great solace. How nice of them to let you play their piano, that is great. It helped you feel better and I am sure they enjoyed listening to you play too! A win win!
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Well said! And sometimes it’s okay to color under a blanket with chocolate chip cookies even when you’re all grown up 🙂
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Thanks Meg and you are very right! 🙂
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Funny you should word it this way, since breath meditation is one of the most touted of all meditations, by Buddhists. Just sitting still and watching your breath can be very tranquilizing, and can assist in letting go of all your preoccupations. And sometimes after doing this for a little while, it occurs to you exactly how to make that big decision. Also, breathing has been widely recommended by medical professionals as a means for sustaining life.
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Yes the neccesity of breathing is something that I believe all medical professionals can agree on! 🙂
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This resonated with me, Joy. Nice job!
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So glad it touched you. (((Hugs)))
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The wood is a place for Vitamin N (Nature) to breath all the oxygen the trees provide for us. When our body and mind is quiet, we notice our breath. I can relate to this, Joy.
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Yes , a wonderful vitamin!! Glad you were able to relate to it. ❤
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Usually yoga, drawing, writing and nature bring me comfort and peace. Also many wonderful friends and family members that remind me to breathe. This is a wonderful reminder for me tonight as I’m facing a possible dental situation and I’m feeling anxious and worried, though there’s nothing I can do until in the morning. So thank you for sharing as it was a gentle reminder to just breathe in this moment.❤️
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Oh yes family and friends reminding us to breathe is so appreciated! So sorry about facing another dental problem, glad that you could find some peace about that through this post! Will be thinking of you and hoping all can work out! ❤ ❤
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Thank you, I will know more tomorrow. I had nagging inkling something wasn’t right this morning and tried to get into see the surgeon, my orthodontist, or dentist today, but to no avail. I’m hoping that it’s just that they did add the bonding to the adult tooth when I got my braces last week be a otherwise the alternative is that I lost part of that tooth. It’s hard to tell because the tooth is still so far down in the gum line.
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Oh dear! Hope you can get in tomorrow!
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I have a late afternoon appointment with the surgeon tomorrow, but I’m going to try to get in earlier as it might be more of a dental emergency.
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Good luck! Hopefully you aren’t in too much pain tonight!
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Thankfully the pain isn’t too bad right now, feels like a lot more pressure from my braces. Thank you, I’ll be sure to give you an update tomorrow!❤️
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You are welcome and look forward to hearing from you tomorrow! And hopefully after tomorrow you can have a break from the dentist!! 🙂
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All is good and it was a spacer that the surgeon put in during the surgery. He said he’d told me after I woke up, but I was so out of it that I don’t remember. He said he’d told the orthodontist, who didn’t mention it either…and who was actually supposed to remove it. Lol so while it’s just a little more tender due to more pressure directly on the tooth from the braces, all is well!😃❤️
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Yay that all is well!!
Don’t blame you for not remembering. Anesthesia makes me forget things for the rest of the day. LOL!
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Lol right!😁 ❤️
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A truly beautiful post. Thank you.
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Aww. You are very welcome Nico. 🙂
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🙂
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Indeed – sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is simply breathe! ❤
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You might enjoy this:
I go to the woods
To feel good
I go to the river
To let my mind run
Etc.
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i read this a few days ago and have been wanting to write a comment but have been so busy and distracted. you have said some lovely things here to take back Carolyn. to go to a place and seek counsel from within and out, to listen to nature’s nurturing voice. i bought a book recently and it is a story about how souls can’t get through heaven because they are too heavy, its called “on the other side” by carrie hope fletcher, not a best seller but one of those books that have a deeper message hidden beneath a fluffy cover story. i am going to read it, your post here reminded me of the book. when our souls are heavy we cannot pass through life, we need to let go, and this was a wonderful encouragement for me, to read how you sat and allowed the stillness and beauty of life lift your burdens. a beautiful post from such a beautiful heart.
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And you have choked me up with your words. Thank you my dear. So glad that my words could encourage you, that’s one of the best parts of writing for me, knowing I can encourage others! You described it so well, yes we can’t get through life with heavy souls, we need to let go so we can fly! I have experienced some of the letting go tonight, which is why your words choked me up more. It was perfect timing to read your comment.<3
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always my pleasure dear Carolyn, your words sink deep
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