The last thing we all need is more “To Do Items” to fit into our already full schedules. What if we could do the daily things we need to do in a way that enhances our well-being? Can relaxation time be a part of our work, rather than only a separate entity? A while back, while on a road trip to visit family, I noticed something that has become a lasting metaphor for the way I want to live my life. I was headed out to my favorite place in California to visit dear family and so of course was eager to get to my destination as quickly as possible. The drive takes over 13 hours and I chose to drive it straight so you can imagine I had plenty of time to think. I popped in the first of my collection of books on tape and headed off. About halfway through I began to grow impatient, tired, wanting this journey to be done with, wanting my 4-cylinder car to stop slowing down every time I came to a hill. Frustration, disappointment, impatience!!

Ohhhh, remember……..

Deep breath, inhale…HMMMMMM, exhale…HMMMMMM, slowly coming back to the present moment with each breath and noticing what’s happening right now. I am driving my car up a hill on the interstate, my speed dropping below the posted speed limit. I notice my leg muscle straining as I push the gas pedal all the way to the floor, my neck and shoulders tight as I look in the rear view mirror and see the truck tailgating me, my grip on the steering wheel clenched. Deep breath again, choice point….exhale. "Choice point" is the moment when, in the midst of my mind whirring away, I remember that I have options. It seems almost like a gift of Grace, lifting me out of a stuck thought process and into the present moment where there are many possibilities. I signal and move to the slow lane and allow the truck to pass. I continue to take deeps breaths as I loosen my grip on the steering wheel, lift and roll my shoulders, and massage my neck as best I can while driving. With my body relaxing an idea flashes, what would happen if I did the same to the gas pedal? I try it out on the next big incline. I start out the same, pushing the pedal to the metal. I begin to play with the gas pedal slowly lifting my foot to the point that maintains the maximum speed my car is capable of on this hill. Interesting. I notice that I can use much less gas (less energy), maintain my speed, and still get to my destination in the same amount of time (results). I test this out on several more hills and as I do the metaphor emerges.

What if I applied this to other areas of my life? While I am typing at the computer, busily trying to meet my deadline, I can remember to take a deep breath, check in with my body and see if I may be ignoring any needs—bathroom break, meal, water? While I am holding my son, I can take a deep breath and check in with my body—neck, shoulders, back need stretching? While I am reading and doing research—do my eyes need a rest, does my posture need a change? When I am working on a physical task holding something, lifting, typing, are there parts of me that are not being used and can completely relax?

The overall question: are there any ways I am straining, pushing, forcing something to happen that is not serving me? Is there a way I can relax into my task more? Through my breath? Through stretching? Through a change in posture? Is there a part of my body that is working harder than it needs to? Gripping tight? Clenching? Tightening when it can be relaxed and still accomplish the work at hand? Are the parts I am using struggling or efforting more than they need to? How can I use the valuable and precious energy available to me for the greatest good—supporting myself to work and play in a balanced way?

If you are feeling depleted, your energy draining, these questions may assist you in balancing your energy input and output. Your work need not be at the expense of your well-being. Our work can be an active, moving-breathing meditation.

© 2002 Katharine M. Sullivan, M.S.