Just Stop.

The 4th of July is a week away. Are you one of the dudes that lets summer slip by and pretty soon you're back-to-school shopping and ordering a pumpkin spice? I was too. I didn't realize that I was the reason summer went by so fast. I spent the hot months stressed and worried and making sure I could fit ALL THE PLANS WITH EVERYONE IN, every single weekend. That was before I learned how to be present. All up in the moment.

Now, I realize you've heard that one hundred million times. "Live in the now!", "Be Present!" and it seems like it's a great idea, but how do we slow down enough to get there? It's not impossible. One of the therapies I use for myself when I feel overwhelmed, bogged down, anxiety or stressed, is breathing. Last time you checked you were already doing that, right? When you get these feelings, just stop what you're doing, breathe deeply, in the nose and out the mouth, and take a second to APPRECIATE everything that's around you. You may have to try a couple deep breaths to calm your ass down, but TRY IT. Instant relief. Better than any pharmaceutical.

That's it. Now you're present.

Let me put this in a way you can possibly relate to.

So, you slept through the alarm, you're going to be late for work, the kids didn't get any breakfast, you torched your mouth with your coffee and you locked your keys in your car. What is the one thing that could benefit you at this moment? I'll give you a hint. It's not a bottle of wine and a Xanax.

You'll respond and react much more gracefully in this moment IF you stop, take a deep breath, organize your thoughts, appreciate all that is your life and THEN take the steps to get yourself where you need to be. Don't waste this life on "oh, I had the worst morning ever!" either. It is done. You had a rough couple of minutes, you have so much to look forward to and be grateful for. So again, kick grass over that shit and move on. Don't complain about it to everyone you see today, reliving the situations over and over and over. That's called living in the past. It's pretty hard to be present when you're dwelling on the bullshit that happened this morning. Watch yourself NOT talk about it, and watch yourself evolve and set the pace for the remainder of the day.

Savoring summer is all about breathing in the incredible moments with your kids and husbands and the people you love the most. Take pictures! Go on adventures! Make memories! Ignore distractions! Each day you remind yourself to appreciate what's in front of you is a day spent living your best life, and you wind up finding yourself with so much more to be grateful for.