Breathe in

ˈThankful/

adjective

1.     expressing gratitude and relief.

"an earnest and thankful prayer"

Some mornings you wake up feeling like you just went to bed, like it’s impossible that your toddler is already awake or that today you need your coffee intravenously!

Maybe it being the start of November got to me, but this morning I woke up thinking about a little tradition that my mom and I had and feeling so thankful for it.

Stop and breathe in the air.

Seems simple enough right? After all, we do have to actually breathe every second of the day. However, how often do you take time to stop and focus solely on breathing? 

Growing up my mom had this amazing way of making you appreciate the little things. When chaotic days were taking place, when she could tell that we all just needed a moment, she would stop us. We would go over to our favorite window in our little town-home, open it up and stand there breathing in the air. Closed eyes, taking deep breaths and feeling the wind on our faces, we would stop and take that moment for ourselves.

Autumn was our favorite time for this since the air just seems to be renewed and the crisp breeze touches your soul.

It’s something I now do with my children as often as possible. I talk to them about how important it is to appreciate the little things in life, to really open your eyes up and take in the beauty around you, and to stop for a moment and truly breathe in the air.

There is nothing better than standing there all snug with my two littles knowing that in that moment there is peace. For just those few seconds, I can soak them up, things are quiet, we can clear our minds and I get to steal a little extra bit of that precious childhood time.

Take this month and use it as an opportunity to reflect on the positive. Enjoy what November and Thanksgiving bring. Put aside the work, the dirty dishes, the internet, put aside the chaos and soak up appreciation. Look at the beauty that lives all around you. Its such a simple task that is greatly overlooked.  

I really could keep talking about this topic forever but instead I’ll let you go. 

After all, you have some deep breathing to go do…