I Want A Pause Button Dammit!

Have you ever wished that life came with a pause button?
                                                                                                                      ~J.Manning

Have you ever felt some times in your life, that the world must be spinning a little bit faster or time had some how sped up? That things in life were going a little too fast, was too much and all at the same time? A period in life where you just couldn't seem to catch your breath? It seems lately, my "To Do" list keeps growing, my calendar keeps filling up and if one more crisis arises I may start wearing a cape and pretending I am Super Jenn. So many places to get to, things to accomplish, cleaning to do and work and laundry and..and..and I'm tired.  I was driving home from work today and running through everything I have to get to, get done and remember this week. From work stuff to home stuff, to appointments, games and commitments. Honestly it made me even more tired just thinking about it. It also does not leave me much brain power or energy for my writing, my page and myself. Don't get me wrong, I love my life. I love my job, my family and my friends. I just wish that life came with a pause button. I don't want a rewind button, sure as hell do not need a fast forward button - just simply a pause button. It stop the spinning, the running, the constant doing and catch my breath.

Even as I sit here in a stolen moment and write this, I have to really stop my thoughts and focus. I can think of no less than a dozen things that need doing. But they can wait, or at least that is what I am telling that little voice inside my head. For right now, for this moment, I am stealing Jenn time. The dishes can wait, the vacuuming and the bills. I do not have to be any where for a few minutes. I am creating my own pause button. Sitting on my deck, at home in the woods and I am content. I feel like I may have pulled one over on the clock, the "To Do" list and it feels pretty amazing.

When I got home I sat for a few minutes. I shut off my brain and simply listened to the wind in the trees, the birds chirping and some angry turkeys somewhere. When those voices started to creep in saying you should be, have to be and get going already, I silenced them. It was in this quiet stolen moment when I had an epiphany. I can only do so much in one day, in one hour. There is no crime in stolen moments to catch my breath.  It is the same for you. We have to learn to create our own pause buttons. To put  aside the stresses of everyday life, the chores and just simply; be. It is far too easy to keep running and running til you drop from exhaustion. Or make ourselves sick because we are trying to be everywhere at the same time. We can only do - what can we do. We can move mountains with our will, balance babies on one hip and make dinner at the same time. We can care for our families, work full time jobs and handle everything. Of this I have no doubt. If we can do all of this and more, than we sure as hell can make our own pause button.  We have to. Call it stolen moments, call it me time, call it whatever you want, but make it happen. 

Life is what it is. You can either go through life at mach 10, constantly doing, and miss things. Or you can learn to create your own pause button. Stop. Catch your breath. Focus on you and than, carry on.  

I am off now to simply be for a few more moments. I have a date with reality soon and I hate to keep it waiting....