I yam what I yam

For some reason, in today's acupuncture session, while lying on a quiet table with needles sticking out of my body, and my mind racing with all the things I have to think about and do, I took a deep breath, stopped myself, and came up with a new mantra for myself.

JUST BE

How and why did I come up with that (last year's mantra was "Matter More")?

Well, I was in a very meditative state with my needles, but I found myself thinking about other things. While my mind was racing, I realized that the thing I really need to learn how to do is to JUST BE.

I shouldn't always be thinking about a call, a presentation, a meeting, doctors, what ifs, lunch, sports, etc, JUST BE.

JUST BE in the moment and appreciate the moment for what it is. Feel myself and my body, hear the noises in the room or outside, smell the smells, etc. JUST BE present and aware of what is going on in that moment, in that place, in my world.

I started to really like JUST BE, if you couldn't tell. I saw all of these constructs where it could work for me:

• JUST BE "who" I am

• JUST BE "what" I am

• JUST BE "when" I am

• JUST BE "where" I am

OK, you get the point. For those who know me, you know that my mind rarely sits still, but it needs to. We all need to stop and smell the roses more often (not the Rosens, the roses!). Me especially.

I need to appreciate the moment and not be focused on what's next or what if.

This is a shift for me. My previous mantra was "Matter More". It's not lost on me that I am shifting from external to internal. Matter More means help more people and matter more to the world. JUST BE is more about being within myself, appreciating the world, and focusing on the moment, not the noise. The goal for me is to do both, to matter more and to JUST BE.

So, those are my thoughts for the day and a new mantra for me. The more I can JUST BE, the more engaged, appreciative, relaxed, at peace I will be. Wish me luck! This is going to take some work but it will be well worth it!