Blowing Bubbles

When I was in college, I used to blow bubbles when I was stressed. Try it - take a few minutes, lean back, take a deep breath, and simply watch the pretty bubbles float away. Don't create a cheesy metaphor or learning objective; just watch them and take a few deep breaths. I hope you come away more relaxed and less stressed than you were a minute ago.

Tonight I am sitting in the living room listening to my husband give Baby M a bath. They are splashing around and blowing bubbles in the water. I am finding that if I lean back, take a deep breath, and simply listen to the sweet sounds of laughter and bubbles, I can sit up a little less stressed. Too often we focus too hard on our tasks and tune out the noises, smells, and sights around us. Sometimes this is good and necessary, but sometimes we miss out on the best parts of the day. Some of my fondest childhood memories are associated with the smell of fresh bread, the feel of rolling down a green hill, and the sound of my dad playing the piano. And yet it's harder for me to connect my adult memories to my senses. In trying to be successful and responsible, I have tuned out a key part of living. And sometimes life requires your stress to take you to the boiling point to make you stop and watch the bubbles.