“Life goes by pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” ~ Ferris Bueller

One week ago today, we were packing up our hotel room in Chicago.  Saying goodbye to our little four-day getaway, and getting ready to board a plane back to Phoenix.

It was a perfect excursion, one that I hadn’t realized how much I needed.  From the nightly Happy Hours, to the wonderful restaurants, to the walking and touring of the beautiful city… it was a literal breath of fresh air.   Everyone’s asked me what I did every day when Mike was at his conference, and the fact is, I just was.   I walked.  I nursed a huge cup of coffee at Starbucks while I watched all the passers-by.   I did yoga.  I took myself to the movies.  I sat(!)  I took a nap (if like me, you’re unfamiliar with that term, it means to lay down and voluntarily sleep.  On purpose.  In the middle of the day.)  It was an introvert’s dream vacation.  The best part though, was that both when I was alone and when I was with Mike, time just stood still.   There was no where to be, nothing to do, no one who needed us.  For four days, time stood still.

Now that we’re home, there’s no easing back into real life.  As if a switch has been flipped, it’s once again full-speed ahead.  Do not pass go, do not collect $200.  It’s basketball practices and gymnastics classes and park days and cub scouts and physical therapy appointments.   It’s life.   And I’m reminding myself – again – to breathe.  God’s got this.  I’m finding myself having to trust, more than I ever have before, that no matter where I am… whether it’s driving to another appointment, sitting in the bleachers, racing the four year old across the park, running an errand, or swirling around in the housework that just. doesn’t. end… I’m exactly where I need to be.   Right there, in that place, in that moment, in that point in time.

One week from tomorrow, I’ll add another giant helping to my plate when my yoga teacher training starts.   Right now though, I’ll breathe.  I’ll sit.

The house is quiet.  The birds are singing.  I’m exactly where I need to be.