Daily to-be list influences well-being

Monday morning cup of thoughts

Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash

Thank you to all those who sent their supportive comments and breathwork in response to my post about change. I can’t tell you how lovely it was to receive your support. Please know it made a difference. In my post about resisting change, what I didn’t mention is that I was also doing overdue medical testing. Over two weeks, I had a colonoscopy, a mammogram with an additional follow-up the next week, and a thyroid ultrasound. This was a lot for someone who describes herself as a medical Nervous Nellie. I took your well wishes with me to every appointment, so thank you. And all is well, but please feel free to continue breathing with me as I will with you. There’s always a little something we can use help with.

I also created a voiceover above if you’re on the go and would prefer to listen rather than read.

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I woke up this morning considering a recent post I came across from

Gillian & Li'l Bean

which talked about being as opposed to doing. Most of us begin each day with a to-do list, but how many of us have a to-be list for the day?

I don’t. Do you? I ask myself,

What would that look like, my girl?

Well, thinking about the last few weeks with the numerous medical appointments and the endless email reminders of appointment times and requests for preregistration, and then oh my gosh, opening the follow-up test results, holding my breath, afraid of what I might read, and the overwhelming relief after receiving good news and the tears that followed as my breath began to once again fill my lungs, and then the follow-up emails from the doctor — here is my to-be list to start this week.

Find a comfortable place to sit. 

Close your eyes. 

Place one hand on your heart and the other on your abdomen.

Follow your inhale to where it comfortably travels.

Allow a slight sound of relief to exit with your exhale. You deserve this release.

On the next inhale, pull your shoulders gently up and back.

On the exhale, let them drop an inch, heart to the sky.

Continue following the breath, focusing on gratitude that the stress of the last few weeks has passed and that you are basking in the calm now.

An exercise with the power to change my day, my week, my life?

I think so.

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Back on Friday with Part 3 of Embracing Family.