One Moment in Front of the Other

It's crazy times here in the U.S. of A. 

Doesn't matter if your guy won, or your guy lost; we're all feeling a little stressed out and distressed.

Uncertainty does that to people. Humans don't like uncertainty. We spend a lot of time trying to figure out what's going to happen next, because that helps us feel like we've got some control (ha ha HA), and we can influence what happens next (another HA).

The only thing we can control is ourselves.

So let's take a lesson from our animal friends.

Our animals live in the moment. They don't worry about whether or not they're going to have another meal, or where they're going to sleep, or if that twinge they feel in their legs is cancer. Everything just IS.

They can also feel when we're out of balance - and if I'm any indication, there's a lot of imbalance going around.

In order to keep myself sane, I've minimized my time on social media. We have not had "the news" on for a long time - I'm old, the news is not like it used to be. Back in day (read that with a quaver in your voice, like you're ancient), the news reported mostly facts, and didn't focus so much on the drama.

Not so much anymore. I was thinking about reporting systems this morning, and was reminded of the movie The Fifth Element. If you haven't seen it, I suggest watching it, because it's a society where the reporting is aimed at not giving someone something to think about, but more about an emotional reaction from the audience - because that's what sells. (Think about Hallmark commercials - they pull my heartstrings every. time. And in a commercial, that's okay. Not so much in what's happening in the world.)

So, that was a huge digression.

What can we do to keep ourselves balanced?

Hang out with your animals. Talk to them. Tell them they're pretty, or handsome. Play with them. Go for a walk with your dog, or throw the ball. Let the cat sit on the couch behind your head (doing all sorts of energy work on you), or in your lap, purring. There's something about that purr that's very soothing.

Purr, purr, purr 

They want to help. They can feel when we're out of balance. They will do their best to help you feel better.

They aren't worried. They know that all is well. It's because they're in the moment, and in that moment, all is well. If they're outside, getting wet, they're not worrying about getting dry. They're noticing they're wet. So they'll find a place where they can stay dry, but if they don't find it right away, they continue to be wet. Do they like it? Probably not. But they're not stressing about the fact that they could be wet for the next hour. They're focused on I'm wet NOW. 

If they're playing with you, that's what they're doing (unless they're a dog, and a squirrel goes by - then it might be "SQUIRREL!" - but even that is right in the moment.). 

Where's the dog? (Squirrel giggles)

If they're eating dinner, they're eating dinner.

If you're getting their dinner ready, they're right there, watching you get dinner ready (our sister dogs love to do this). 

Be in every moment, and let the future take care of itself. Do what you can to keep yourself balanced. All worrying does is make you sick. Who wants that?

Do some deep breathing with your animal. Do some yoga.

 Ry wouldn't be caught DOING downward facing DOG, but he will supervise.

Be like the animals. Be in the moment. Tell me how it works out for you.