In theory and mostly practice, I am a proponent of practicing what I preach. However 2020 challenged my self-care and centeredness to its core and I pretty much failed miserably. I have found myself glued to my desk, not drinking enough water, reaching for entirely the wrong foods that I know will empty my energy tank, staying up late clutching my phone swiping up for hopes of some good news...

Yep, I've fallen off of the wellness wagon.

This has been a pivotal year for humankind, and we have been forced to wait. Never has there been a bigger challenge to harness the power of now. Over the past several years of my own spiritual journey, I think I have finally mastered what power in the now means. Not mastered the practice, but at least the understanding that memories are in the past and therefore cannot be acted upon and the future is just a made up best guess or shot in the dark. All that is really true is right now and I mean literally right now.

This is what I know about right now: the sun is shining on my face, I am typing on my keyboard, I hear what sounds like an airplane outside I am breathing.

Quickly my tricky mind goes to wondering where we are with vaccine counts, I need to finish this up so I can get on the road to work, I can't forget to take my lunch... the mind chatter continues. But I can get back to now, and truth, by simply observing this moment. 

So this is what I'm going to do today:

> Practice observing what is true right now (setting my timer to remind me hourly)

> Eat deeply nutritious fruits and vegetables (kale smoothie on its way)

> Drink 64 oz water

I was about to promise no news until evening but that'd set me up for failure.... here's to staying centered in the big unknown!

Tori Paide, M.Ac., L.Ac., founded The Still Point in 2007. As a licensed acupuncturist, she is dedicated to whole body healing through acupuncture and lifestyle changes that empower patients to be in the driver's seat of their wellbeing. You can learn more about Tori at thestillpointspa.com.