Cape Cod. It is the destination of many vacationers, worldwide. The place of sandy beaches, fresh seafood, collecting seashells, salty-air walks, and taking a breath.
Imagine my glee when my parents announced that they would be purchasing a home in a sweet town located in the "Upper Cape", a part of Cape Cod that is located close to the "armpit" of the muscle-making arm, on a map, known as Cape Cod. Having spent the first and most amazing 9 years of my life near Cape Cod, in Duxbury, this news made me feel giddy. The ocean is in my blood. My family spent almost EVERY day on the beach every summer of those first 9 years.
OH, how my heart, mind, and soul have missed the sandy beaches of my youth. Now, more than youthful fun, it feels like oxygen-giving breathing therapy. Life is more than merely taking a breath. It is a daily experience of discipline and obligation. YET, as a 40-something woman with many disciplines and obligations on my plate, living here on Cape Cod and taking a breath is sweeping out my insides.
Perhaps some of you can relate to your heart, mind, and soul's need for oxygen, for breath. Life can get mighty imbalanced, even with the BEST intentions. We pay a cost if life is imbalanced. By one's 40s that cost begins to require payment. It's a cumulative thing. One's life is pretty fresh, invincible, undaunted, and full of spending until the 40s. We aren't machines. We aren't robots with no expiration date. Our bodies, minds, and spirits begin to show wear, tear, and evidence of cumulative stress. Taking a breath is no luxury. It is essential to having a quality, long life.
HERE is a RECIPE FOR BEATING THE 40-SOMETHING BREATHING BLUES, this summer:
1. Adventures at the beach (exposure to the ocean/water measurably reduces stress), pond, lake, fountain, or any other body of water near you.
2. Exercising (uh, the list of benefits is too long to list here). Check out www.pimpyourmat.com for an AMAZING and affordable, at home lifestyle/wellness program.
3. A massage or two (touch stimulates healing, and stimulates the lymphatic system which flushes out illness-causing impurities). Google "organic spa" in your area. You want quality oils on your body!
4. Take yourself out to a really nice, healthy, meal. Maybe even a few times this summer. Just you and your delicious food. Oh, bring a book and put down that darn iphone or smart device thingy that drains your attention. Try to find a place that sources their food locally. You will LOVE it.
5. Eating more FRUIT this summer. Really, it's the season for fruit. Berries should be organic. BUT if you can't go organic, just make sure you wash them with a good fruit wash (I sometimes use lemon juice) to break up the pesticides on the fruit. You will feel SO happy!! Fruit is pretty and yummy and juicy.
6. Consistent aromatherapy (the system of smell is directly connected to the brain) via a diffuser, or a couple drops on your hand. I can hook you up with some ridiculously pure and effective essential oils that support calmative and relaxing effects on your system.
7. MORE beach, other body of water, outside fresh air fun. Perhaps paddle boarding, sailing, hiking, walking, laughing, collecting treasures from nature with your spouse, friends, or kids.
8. Watch some really good movies when it's raining.
As for me, in addition to the above ingredients, I add writing, reading, visiting with my aging parents, more time with my kids, a family breathe time with my husband at the end of the summer, and LOTS of prayer for wisdom for this upcoming year!
If you feel and hear a need to take a breath, it's no miscommunication. Take stock of how you can take a breath, and DO IT. Especially if you are 40-something. Stress will take it's toll. Please find some time and methods that will help you to breathe.
