The Breathing Spaces Blog

The Summer Solstice: A Time for Balance

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Summer Solstice

Balmy summer afternoons seem made for these quieter pursuits, a twist on the traditional siesta of the Latin world. I have strong memories of sharing the front porch with my grandmother on summer days, each of us with a glass of iced tea and a book, magazine, or crossword puzzle. I remember the feel of the condensation cooling my hand when I gripped my glass, and I remember the soft background noises that were ever present: cicadas, lawn sprinklers, small children playing, the occasional barking dog.

But I also remember that, as she got older, my grandmother grew to dread those long summer afternoons – especially Sunday afternoons. Part of this was just the life of an empty nester. Without young children in her home, she and my grandfather were disconnected from the daily events so often tied to the school year, and no longer lived by its rhythm.

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Are You Willing to Raise Your Hand

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Raise Your Hand

In the United States, more than nine million people – about one in five –  fall into the category of ‘caregiver,’ yet many neglect to raise their hands and acknowledge that they are. As roles change in our lives, whether temporarily helping a loved one or going in for the long haul, the guidebooks are unclear and far too long.

How often have you run that extra ‘mile’ and realized you went too far? Or perhaps worse, didn’t realize it until it showed up as your medical condition?

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Collecting Penny Thoughts: Clearing the Way to Accomplishing More

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Penny For Your Thoughts

Overwhelm can cause mistakes. Slowing down a bit avoids pitfalls (as much as possible). Those thoughts are worth much more than mere pennies if they are cared for properly – just don’t let them swamp you. When you multi-task, although it seems like you’ll get more done, you actually lose productivity by dividing your attention.

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Stormy Weather

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landscape-4137802_1920

At six, eight, ten, thirteen, I was not afraid of storms, and even loved the electric crackle of lightning, and the distant (and not-so-distant) booming of thunder, which I imagined as a conversation among mythic figures, like the Greek gods and goddesses I read about in stories. As recently as 2019, I got excited when a storm bore my name, though of course I feel horrible about the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, especially in the Carolinas.

It wasn’t until recently, as I was watching my mother react to a severe storm warning notification, that I recognized that my grandmother hadn’t been so much trying to keep my (non-existent) storm fears at bay as allaying her own.

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Daily Acts of Kindness

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Self Kindness

Kindness is one of the simplest gifts you can give to others and yourself. Showing that you care, especially in this fast-paced world, is important, but requires mindfulness. Small acts of kindness, like looking into someone’s eyes, saying hello, or saying thank you, can make a dramatic difference in mood and attitude. When you notice someone upset or angry, pausing to ask, “Is there something that I can do for you?” creates a shift in energy and fosters connections.

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