I took a little break from blogging. I guess I was looking for some material to write about.  It is easy to find a recipe, but I think it takes time to come up with something deeper.  We all know that wellness is broad—physical health, metal health, emotional, spiritual, etc.

I am personally going through an introspective mode or stage.  I am doing some soul searching, soul cleaning like a spring cleaning, ha, ha, and I am becoming aware of many things.  I stepped outside to take a short break and it was wonderful to feel the sunshine, to feel the warmth on my face.

I realized how much I have been running in my life.  By choice, I run to stay fit. It is my choice of exercise and I think it is most of the time perfect for me.  Now I am becoming aware how healthy it is for me to slow down, to be in the moment, to listen to myself.  Our lives are so busy and I feel my life is a treadmill experience.  But it doesn’t have to be that way, I can choose to slow down. When I do that, when I slow down, it feels good.  I listen better, I take care of myself better, I am more patient and as a result of that, I am a better mother to my son.

I realized that I have been running in life for the last eight years in Canada and I feel tired.  I am not only physically tired, but also tired on a soul level.  My whole being resists the go-go mode and maybe it is time to listen to myself.

Today I will raise a question: What are you practicing? As you go through the questions, I am doing the same with you.  The process is helping me prioratize and make healthier choices:

• Do you want to practice rushing through your morning, or can you wake up a little earlier and simplify your morning routine so that you practice a slow, enjoyable morning ritual?
• Do you want to practice checking your mail inbox when you first get to your computer, or can you do something better?
• Do you want to speak angrily to your kids, or can you speak to them with kindness and compassion?
• Do you want to practice complaining and self-pity, or can you practice gratitude?
• Do you want to practice rushing and being busy, or can I practice simplifying and going slowly?
• Do I want to practice shopping, or can I practice giving?

Yes, I realize that it will take a lot of practice to change my habits.  I give myself permission to make mistakes.  I think it takes many little steps to build a new skill, but I need to take the first one.  I will take it one day at a time and it will get easier. I know it.

I will leave you with a quote from Confucius: Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
Have a great week!

 Submitted by Margarita Natcheva Rowley, Diversity and Immigrant Student Support