reminding myself

Sometimes life moves too fast. We get caught up in the whirlwind of productivity and the necessary “to-do’s” and we end up lost somewhere in the process. We forget to stop and revel in the beauty of a painted sky. We catch only the momentary glimpse of emerald leaves turning crimson and gold. We stop feeling the rush of air against our skin and hurry through the day, our shoulders heavy with obligations and responsibilities.

And then somewhere down the path, we are reminded. We are reminded of all that lies before us, the world as our canvas. We are reminded that the essence of our lives is not about meeting deadlines or reaching goals; it is about living our lives, fully breathing in the beauty of the moments. And yet how often do these reminders bypass our streamlined vision and leave us standing on the edge, wondering what happened to the truly memorable moments of life.

I’ve been needing a reminder these past few weeks. Needing a reminder that my life is not all about memorizing the anatomy of the brain or writing reports and treatment recommendations for my patients. I’ve been needing a reminder to step back and breathe, to feel the rush of air against my skin, to succumb to the laughter that leaves me doubled over on the floor. I’ve been needing a reminder to just live.

So today, I’m reminding myself of the obligations and responsibilities…the ones that lie within me rather than the ones I owe to the world. The ones to nurture my soul, to embrace my spirit, to let the passion in my heart burst forth into each moment. I am reminding myself today what it feels like to stop worrying for a moment, to let the stress fade to the background, and to just BE.