“Be Still – Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity.”  -Lao Tzu

Lately, my mantra is stay still – take time to breathe before reacting to a situation or something said.  It’s not easy when emotions and stress are involved, but I find taking time in that moment helps calm my feelings and response.

Staying still also allows us to be present to observe and experience things we might not notice in our fast paced world.  Today when I walked on the beach, I was thankful for the low tide.  It’s an opportunity to walk a long stretch of the beach without scrambling on slippery rocks to get to the other side.  I ran my hand across velvety moss on a rock normally covered by water.  I took time to notice sea creatures watching a black crab, spider-like crawl away from me as I approached it.  When I peered into a crevice, a large crab with pink pinching claws looked back at me.  Tiny sand crabs blended in with beach as they wobbled across.

I knew if I gazed at the ocean long enough I would see something bigger.  Just then, the fins of a dolphin bobbed in and out of the water.  Staying still calms our senses, enhances perceptions and allows us to catch glimpses of nature’s beauty.