Pausing In Appreciation

Today marks the end of tax season for my office (ok, it’s officially Monday, but historically tax season ends on April 15^th ).   No, I don’t “do taxes,” but as a Certified Financial Planner I do work closely with my clients and their accountants to help them reduce taxes.  The months of February-April are filled with hours of information exchanges between my office, clients, and their accountants.

 I smile as I make my pronouncement that “We made it!”  As I take in the joy of acknowledging the survival of another tax season,  I also pause to think about the beginning of February when I was so desperately wishing this time away.  How often do we do this?  Wish time away?  The concept of wishing time away sounds very off and feels odd to write, but as I think of it more I can see a pattern of when I visualize the completion of a project and wish the time in between start and finish away.  At the beginning, I fantasize about the end of the project and the bliss I will feel upon completion. 

Now that I am attuned to my thinking, I’m not a big fan.  What about the middle?  I would like to live more in the middle in my life.  To me, living in the middle means taking out the extremes and just being.  For example, I don’t need to be furious or exuberantly happy…I can simply be content and sit with my emotions.  I don’t need to be exhausted or hyper to realize my energy level, I can simply pause and realize the moments when I feel well.  Rather than fantasize about my release upon completion of a project, what fun interval-goals can I reach along the way?  And how will I reward them?

My intention today is to pause in appreciation.  To take a moment to soak in the idea of getting back to the aspects I love about my job and helping others, having more time to see my girlfriends, to play with my nieces and nephews, to chat with my siblings and parents, to go on fun dates.  I feel great appreciation for my new love for mochas because a mocha in the afternoon is a treat that gives me a burst of energy for life after work hours.  I’m appreciative of new recipes I’ve discovered that provide a welcome release to do something nourishing for me.  I appreciate my yoga practice and the banister it has been to steady me when things are a bit shaky in my life.  I pause in appreciation of celebrating my Mom’s birthday tonight with life -long friends and visiting family.  I pause in appreciation to celebrate my Mom. I pause in appreciation for the love surrounding me…in the forms of friendship, trust, and family.

I sit here, happily sipping my mocha, pausing in appreciation for all of YOU who read my little blog and encourage me to continue self exploration through reflection.  I appreciate the art of writing… for aiding me in self expression. 

Here’s to living in the middle!  May your weekend be just what you need it to be!

Advertisement