breathing space

{ breathing space } so glad i’m here

by eringoodman on February 10, 2012

in breathing space, parenting, shifting perspective

Today I am sharing the letter I sent on Day One of the Family Re-Charge with much gratitude for the beautiful group of over 200 parents from around the world who are currently on Day Seven of this 10-Day journey.

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Dear Friends,

My friend Jamie Martin recently released an inspiring new ebook called Mindset for Moms.

In it, she talks about visiting her friend who is in a nursing home, and encourages readers to think about life 50 years from now.

As I read, I was deeply touched by this simple reminder from Jamie:

“Your chaotic present is someone else’s nostalgic past.”

Yes, parenting is chaotic.

Yes, it is often overwhelming.

There is scarcity – of time and resources (and sleep).

But, oh my goodness, is there ever beauty.

Take a deep breath and look around you. What moments do you want to remember about these days with your family?

Let’s celebrate and breathe life into these moments.

Love + Light…


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So Glad I’m Here

By Erin Barrette Goodman

I was having one of those days.

One of those days when I was tripping over toys and cursing piles of laundry and feeling like I wanted to get in the car and drive far, far away.

Deep breath. Take a deep breath, I coached myself.

Turn on some music, the voice inside my heart continued.

I clicked on Pandora and Elizabeth Mitchell began singing, “So Glad I’m Here,” each chord on the piano a direct line into my heart.

Later that night, when the house was quiet, I went searching online, in hopes of finding a video of Elizabeth singing this beautiful song.

Instead I found this video and felt an instant connection with its creator.

I think you will too.

Click to watch “So Glad I’m Here” on YouTube.

 

Today, as you move through your day, look around your space and at your loved ones and imagine that you are creating a time capsule (to be opened several decades in the future) of the beauty that is right now.

Laundry piles, broken toys, naked Barbie dolls and all.

If you are inspired to take photos, take photos.

If you enjoy taking videos, take videos.

If you are a writer, grab a notebook and record those little details.

Or just pause for a few moments and take “mental photographs.”

What makes you feel “SO glad I’m here.”

 

Happy weekend, friends. I’ll see you back here for Sunday Still Life.


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{ breathing space } quiet

by eringoodman on January 27, 2012

in breathing space, nature


(Go here if you can’t see the video.)

Tomorrow: Live Facebook Chat with Nicola Alesandrini.

Sunday: Family Re-Charge Welcome Week kick-off.

Today: Quiet. (Amateur videographer-style.)

Inhale. Exhale.

Ahhhh…

~ Erin

Peace, friends.

 

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{ breathing space } water the flowers

by eringoodman on January 13, 2012

in breathing space, shifting perspective

She is speaking about relationships and challenges.

I’m half-listening, distracted by my swirling thoughts.

She is speaking of mending strained relationships.

I exhale and consciously tune in.

She is speaking the words I need to hear.

She (our minister) is speaking about a practice she and her best friend (a Buddhist teacher) use when they face challenges in their relationship.

I close my eyes and slide my arms around my children.

When they are struggling to connect and understand each other, she says, they “water the flowers” by consciously breathing and focusing on each other’s best qualities.

I feel my heart soften.

And right there in that moment I begin to ‘water the flowers’ for each person in my family.

(Including myself.)

And the swirling and the struggling and the straining . . .

. . . melt into L O V E.

How about you?

Are there any flowers in your life that need water?


 

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( Photos taken at Weedweavers in Wakefield, RI. )

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{ breathing space } slow days

by eringoodman on December 30, 2011

in breathing space, energy management

 

Slow doesn’t always equal peaceful.

It can. And it often does.

But there can also be discomfort and emptiness when we cease our constant motion.

The discomfort of those tired moments at the end of a long day when we finally sit down and are instantly flooded with the full extent of our exhaustion.

The emptiness of the day after the Big Day, when the to-do list that has been driving every waking moment is no longer needed.

Although there is often a feeling of relief.

There can also be a letdown that comes with the slow down.

At times it feels easier to just keep moving. To not notice. To not feel.

And yet there are many gifts to be found in slow days…

…we just have to be still long enough to discover them.

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Wishing you the gifts of slow days as we move into 2012.

Thank you for sharing 2011 with me.

 

 

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{ breathing space } holiday overload

by eringoodman on December 16, 2011

in breathing space, energy management, shifting perspective

“Uh, Lily. We have a situation out here. Mama is lying on the floor with her hands over her face,” Quinn calls into the bedroom.

I wave an arm to signal that I am okay, giggling at the absurdity of the scene, and whisper to my children to brush their teeth and pick out books.

And I breathe, right there on the hallway floor, slowly and deliberately taking inventory of all the blessings in my life, until the overwhelm begins to melt away and I can think clearly once again.

What set off this Mama Drama?

John had to work late.

And although he told me (multiple times), I forgot.

And so despite the 25 things still on my to-do list before I could sleep, I had just realized that the cavalry was not coming and I was now also on bedtime duty.

And when I hit the top stair and someone screeched at someone about something, I hit overload and crawled onto the floor.

And while I realize this might not be the best strategy to use in every situation (like say standing in line at the grocery store), it really worked.

Lying in stillness on the hallway floor didn’t just shift bedtime with my children, it shifted my whole week — and what remains of this holiday season.

It got me back into the yoga studio and out for lunchtime walks.

And led me to reflect, once again, on what this season is really about.

Hint: It’s NOT about running yourself ragged and snapping at your loved ones because you are beyond exhausted.

Or at least it doesn’t have to be.

XO

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