We’re back to school and at the RoundTable!

Every morning for the past week, I’ve looked at my phone, seen that the temperature is in the 50s, and let out a delighted sigh. Ahhhh, fall… 

There’s nothing like crispness in the air after a summer of boiling temperatures, and that crispness always reminds me of that back-to-school feeling. Now that my son has started “big boy school” and will be on an academic calendar until I’m no longer responsible for him as a human being, I’ve decided to embrace that feeling of newness, of starting over. 

With a new morning routine that involves a driving commute to school instead of a ten-minute walk to daycare, I decided to wake up early to pray and meditate before everyone else was up. That resolution lasted all of one day before the exhaustion of said commute caught up with me. But the point is: I’ve decided to make time to be present, even if it’s just for a few minutes. What can you do to feel centered before tackling your work? 

I also told myself I would start doing cardio again. I hopped on the Peleton for a 15-minute low-impact ride with Sam Yo and immediately felt the lingering impacts of the Covid I had over the summer. Then my schedule caught up with me. So, I haven’t ridden since. But! The point is: I’ve decided to be intentional about getting movement in in some way every day. What can you do to bring more motion to your body throughout the day?

I also created a vision board full of features about being in nature, visiting gardens and taking in fresh air. Then I promptly spent two days without going outside at all because I had so much work to do. BUT! The point is: I’ve realized that being outdoors is vital to maintaining my energy. What can you do to make sure you get outside today?

Last Friday, I went forest bathing. Yes, it’s actually called “forest bathing,” and it’s a Japanese practice of using one’s senses in the forest (with one’s clothes on, if you needed that clarification). I did a guided group thing in Rock Creek Park, where seven strangers and I awkwardly stood in the woods, then wandered around seeing, listening to, and feeling the air. I noticed the breeze blowing in the tops of the trees, but that the ground was still and quiet. Under a canopy of leaves, the air felt moist and cool. I found myself closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. 

I realized that in just a few moments, I’d accomplished all of my new resolutions: mediating, walking, and being outside. Sure, it took some scheduling and the oddity of experiencing it with perfect strangers, but it was exactly what I needed. 

So, for all of those questions I asked you, I think you know the answers: Step outside, take a deep breath, and notice the motion in the trees and simultaneous stillness of the ground. You’ll feel much more alive, more than even the hustle of fundraising and dealmaking could allow. I promise.