Pause in the pause

What happens if I linger just one beat longer before moving on?

I get so focused on forward momentum, that I forget that the spaces in life are just as much a part of the rhythm. Even the smallest spaces between actions—even between thoughts—are not wasted. Clarity has a chance to appear in those spaces. In those spaces I can notice subtle shifts in my breath, the weight of fatigue, and the flicker of gratitude.

Those extra spaces require me to give myself permission: permission to acknowledge the moment as it is, rather than rushing to reshape it into something else. The pause itself doesn’t fix anything, it's a space where the urgency softens. Only in that space can I realize that what felt urgent isn’t. And in that space I can glimpse what really deserves my attention.

Just as I have my own role to play, so does time. And time does its job much more faithfully, much more accurately, than I ever do. Ever since time began (when was that, I wonder?), it’s been moving ever forward without a moment’s rest. And one of the privileges given to those who’ve avoided dying young is the blessed right to grow old. The honor of physical decline is waiting, and you have to get used to that reality. ~ Haruki Murakami

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There's also a short page to help you get the most from Pause— including how you can listen to each issue of Pause in your podcast player.