Quotes of the Week from Me:

“There is nothing wrong with your decisions steering you in unexpected directions.”

“You are one conversation away from a new connection, a new friendship.”

“Do you ever just sit and think, ‘How wonderful?’”

Quotes of the Week from Others:

“We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.” – Orson Welles

“I can bear any pain, as long as it has meaning.” – Haruki Murakami

“We all know that a good example is more effective than advice. So set a good example, and it won’t take long for others to follow.” – Anne Frank

Quick Optimism:

When making a big decision, consider YOUR 3 P’s: passion, purpose, and profit.

If you find two out of three, the decision is likely a pretty good one to make. If you only see one, it may likely be difficult to initiate and maintain.

Question of the Week:

Happy Easter and welcome to April! No April Fool’s plans as far as the newsletter, but hopefully you enjoyed another nice weekend with family and friends, and watch your backs today!

As we begin April, consider the question below:

Can you accomplish more in 4 minutes than in 1 hour? Imagine if you could.

As always, it depends. When it comes to mindfulness and practicing slowing down, I think sometimes it’s true. I have continued my ice bath tradition each morning after exercise and though I am still skeptical of the science surrounding the practice, I am convinced it has become a form of morning meditation for me.

To start, cell phones and water are not a good mix, so my phone isn’t present. It is difficult to avoid phone time when work emails and friends are pinging nonstop. There is always a reason to pick it up again. But not when taking a bath.

In addition, the anticipation of lying neck-deep in freezing water is pretty isolating. The walk of shame down the porch, and around to the side of the house, is a mental hurdle that allows for little distraction. I have tried both 2 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and finally settled on 4 minutes of bath time every morning. I haven’t seen additional benefits from going longer, and I like letting my body adjust for longer than 2 minutes. 4 seems like the right length of time.

Once the tarp is removed and it’s time to join the floating chunks of ice in the water, it is easier to just take the dive and submerge fully, quickly. What I have started to notice is how much I actually notice when I am trying not to think about the cold plunge.

Again, the evidence backing the benefits of ice bathing for your health is murky, but while I am in that cold water, I swear I can hear more, see more, and appreciate more. I am fully present for the 4 minutes in the bath each morning.

I hear the wind in the trees, the birds singing, and call it placebo, I feel the minor aches and pains of everyday life slowly numbing away. Thoughts are clear, it is quiet. It feels like those 4 minutes are more productive than some full hours throughout the day. Either way, it sets me up for more productive hours to follow knowing I get to meditate each morning.

Whether trend-chasing or trying to find truly beneficial practices for your daily routine, what have you done that keeps you firmly focused, or keenly aware?

Make it a meditative Monday.