Why Can't I Sit Still?

I finished the first draft of the manuscript for my new book on Friday (more to come on this fruitful journey and the gifts that came from the last several months). In many ways, the work is just beginning, but I’m committed to stopping to smell the roses whenever I can.

To celebrate and reconnect, my family headed down to Port Aransas on the Texas coast, for a weekend of doing nothing. At least that was the idea.

Even though I love to sit, relax and just listen to the ocean waves, I had a hard time just being.

When my husband put down a Mexican blanket for us on the beach (my ten-year-old son and his friend swam everyday we were there, even though the water was 60 degrees), I started doing yoga. And when we headed to the south jetty to look at the jellyfish, I brought my small Moleskine notebook and a pen in case I thought of new ideas to incorporate into the book. In the early evening, I invited the guys to sit out on the condo porch with me and watch the sun set—while I flipped through an old National Geographic.

Why is it so hard to just sit and do nothing. No thing. Not one thing. For me, yes—I’m a big idea girl and am constantly envisioning, dreaming and imagining—but I think it also ties back to my old habitual thinking around productivity=worth (read more).

I watched myself this weekend without judgment, more with amusement than anything else. (My husband came up with a new career for himself: he’s so good at resisting the compulsion to “get busy” that he’s going to become a presence coach and offer to sit with people like me who feel the drive to multitask and help us do nothing; he’s guessing he could charge $100/hour for this. What do you think?!)

I know that the desire to do more than one thing at a time is common for many of us and it’s a rare bird—like my beloved—that can sit and stare out into nature without feeling the need to pick up shells or brainstorm on places he’d like to visit. But, I can’t help but notice  how multitasking makes me feel (speeded up, tight, constricted, less open to solutions, less connected to others). And not just while it’s happening, but for hours and days later.

This week as I return to hundreds of unopened emails from the last two months and reply to a long stream of requests, I’m going to build in short spells into my day where I literally do nothing.  Feel free to join me if you're free--I'd love the company.

P.S. I guess my intention last week to remain curious paid off! I've received a lot of new insights this week.

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Video:  The Gulf of Mexico, Port Aransas, Texas.

Anchoring

Many of our clients, my friends and family have expressed lately that they feel extremely untethered.

There seems to be a large contingency of us that feel as if we’re in the middle of a big storm in choppy waters and we’re not quite sure when we’re going to hit shore.

Some feel a bit off course while others are sending out a huge SOS for Olympic-sized guidance as they fend off 30-foot waves.

When I feel this way, I always ask myself, “What anchors me?”

I just returned from an exciting but very emotionally charged week of hosting out-of-guests, the wedding of my baby brother (sans my parents and grandparents who passed away in the 90s), lots of intense family dynamics, the roller coaster of my husband’s job search and a heavy duty dose of 40-something hormonal upheaval. To say I felt off-center over the last 7 days is an understatement!

As I ease into the work week and get back on track physically and emotionally in caring for myself and my family, I am very grateful for having developed a keen awareness for what anchors me *now* and how I get grounded. I’m going to share what these cornerstones are so I can remember to commit to these essential practices:
• meditation: frequency matters more than length; when I meditate 10 or 20 minutes each morning, I’m a different person and feel I can take on ANY challenge that comes my way
• dancing, walking or yoga every day no matter what (even if I have to get up a 5:30 a.m. to knock out deadlines to make this happen)
• eating delicious, fresh, deeply nourishing foods that make my body sing with delight (tonight we’re having a mustard vinaigrette stir fry with toasted brown rice/sesame seeds and iced hibiscus mint tea)
• scheduling heart-to-heart walks and talks with friends who love and support me—no matter how busy I am!

What anchors you? Don’t feel bad if you’re still figuring this out. It only took me about 38 years to get clarity on this. And for those who have known for a long time what your anchors are, maybe it’s time to revisit these?

I’d love to hear how you find your sea legs when you’re navigating uncertain times or even just a tough week.

JOIN A GROUP, ATTEND A RETREAT/WORKSHOP OR DIALOGUE WITH ME: Would you like to learn what your anchors are and tools for daily self-renewal? Join us in the cool Berkshire mountains in MA this coming August at the beautiful Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health for our Self-Renewal Retreat Aug. 13-15. One of my favorite spots on the planet and the retreat center that I visit when I'm ready to make a huge life shift! Visit our calendar to learn more about upcoming events including our FREE July 15th Live Inside Out teleclass on Nurturing Your Spirit.

Also, check out our Live Inside Out community and share how you create balance in your relationship.

The Journey, a blog about coach/author/entrepreneur Renee Trudeau’s personal journey to life balance and living life from the inside out, comes out weekly.

Peace in the Eye of the Storm

Happy 2008 (have you noticed all the "2008 is going to be great" bumper stickers everywhere?! ...I'm hoping this group intention will affect us all very positively!).

I got two doses of black eyes peas yesterday (one veggie style with lots of cumin-yum--and one with a ham hock, really flavorful). I love this tradition and of course eating lots of hot buttery cornbread with these steaming bowls of goodness is a must. Both of these peafests were shared with good friends and my son/husband--what a wonderful way to usher in this new year.

This morning I went for a walk on a hike/bike trail that encircles a lake near downtown Austin. It was about 31 degrees, which in Texas, means hardly anyone else was out walking! Halfway around, I felt pulled to stop and sit on a lakeside bench. The spot was very quiet--no one around, just still waters, weeping willow trees and a few slow moving ducks. Across the lake I could see and faintly hear one of our busiest expressways. Most were probably driving to work--some maybe be feeling the post-holiday, backlog-of-work calling their names. (I can relate, my a.m. to-do list this Wednesday feels somewhat daunting. Deep breaths ....)

As I sat and observed the contrast of stillness/business, I felt a blanket of calm peace wash over me.

My intention for the holiday season was to remain calm/peaceful in the eye of the storm no matter what drama or excitement (healthy or unhealthy) was unfolding around me.

I think I'll carry this intention into January and beyond as well.

There is something really empowering and comforting about knowing no matter how crazy or exciting or insane things get around us, we really can choose to access that quiet, still space that resides within. For me, returning to this place, feels like going home. Sometimes I get lost or distracted, but it's alwasy there, waiting.