“Why why, what a terrible time to be alive

If you’re prone to over thinking and

Why why, what a terrible time to be alive

If you’re prone to second guessing”

So sings George Ezra…

I had a rough night last night. Drifting in and out of sleep, and aware of my mind ticking over even when I was “dozing”.

As someone that promotes the benefits of a quiet mind, and the peaceful space inside, I did a pretty good job of getting caught up in my thoughts, magnifying them into shadow monsters on the wall and scaring myself.

I spend most of my life in a little sailing boat of good feelings floating on a benevolent and calm sea. By the time dawn broke I was in a leaky row boat without any oars and the sea was stormy and most definitely NOT benevolent!

Two cups of tea in, a cuddle from a Labrador or two, a conversation with my lovely husband shaped rock, and sunshine streaming through my bedroom window, and I am almost back to my zen-like existence.

What prompted my sleeplessness? Well, we have a few major life changes ahead of us – all really good stuff, nothing bad, but change all the same. I am busier than I have been for a few years workwise, and Nigel was snoring! All the stuff that we allow to creep in and that causes anxiety to nip at our heels as we navigate our life path.

The thing is. We all do it. We all get caught up in our thinking. Start writing stories of how our life is going to go when we really have NO IDEA of how it will be! And that’s ok. But we should learn to see it for what it is. Acknowledge that we are racing ahead of ourselves. Take several deep breaths. And step back from the precipice.

In the end everything will be ok. And if its not, then it is not the end! Bring yourself back to the present moment, and relish it. Embrace it. Enjoy every little thing about just being.

As Syd said…

“Life is like any other contact sport. You may encounter hardships of one sort or another. Wise people find happiness not in the absence of such hardships, but in their ability to understand them when they occur.”

— Sydney Banks

My night-time fears seem silly this morning. I am sure that they will try and barge their way back into my awareness over the next couple of weeks, doing their best to rock my little sailing ship.

But always remember…all boats rise with the tide!