When working on a big project it is tempting to plod through, even if it means dragging one foot in front of the other to the finish line. I’ve never run a marathon, but I have ridden my bicycle from Houston to Austin for the MS150. The two-day ride was grueling and pushed my non-athletic body to previously unknown limits. The necessary training taught me the value of cadence; constant and steady rhythm instead of plunging until tired and then coasting. Pushing hard is fun. You’re getting somewhere. You are strong and mighty. It can’t last. I’m finding that scheduled fifteen-minute breaks every hour work for me. Often the 45 minutes end too quickly; I’m deep in the zone and I want to push back that break. Instead, I reset the timer for fifteen minutes, exit my writing closet and engage in a mind-switching, sometimes tedious, sometimes fun, activity. When I reset to a glorious 45 minutes and return to my writing spot, I am fired up, excited about the work ahead. I don’t plod across the finish line, I high-step through to the goal. The bonus is more energy for all the other things that call me to attention throughout the day.
Quote of the Week…
“My heart is beating, and I’m breathing, and nothing anybody has ever done has changed that.” Rupi Kaur, 1992 –
Breathe…
We all do it. If we are lucky, it is automatic and pain-free. We don’t even think about it. Paying attention to breath is meditation 101, the most basic mindful awareness practice. I’ve used box breathing (four counts inhale, four counts hold, four counts exhale and four counts hold) during dentist visits. Six breaths per…
Quote of the Week…
“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” Pablo Picasso, 1881 – 1973
Patty Mayeux Blog 
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