similar, but not the same.

I was driving down the 5 freeway to bartend a party in Orange County. On the other side of the freeway, I saw at least 10 police cars racing in the opposite direction. Could they be racing back toward the fires? Should I go home? No, they’re not fire trucks. Just police cars.

At home the next day, I heard sirens. I live in Los Angeles, and generally that is very common. But, this time, my heart dropped, and I could feel the anxiety rising in my body. Are there more fires? Are they close? I took a breath and assessed the situation. Everything has calmed down in our home’s surrounding area, so, it must just be something else happening outside.

How interesting it is to me how something that I have grown so much accustomed to, now raises the hairs on the back of my neck, due to a new experience.

Before last week, I’d never experienced having to decide which clothes to pack for my 3 children, myself, and my man to fit in one backpack for an emergency evacuation. I’d never experienced stepping outside and smelling burning trees. I’d never experienced the piercing iPhone alarm go off, saying that we have an evacuation warning. I’d never experienced 3 minutes later receiving another one saying it was just a “false alarm.”

Now that I have this new experience, I am going to have to exercise mindfulness. Sirens do not equal fire. Sirens do not equal immediate danger. Sirens, bring awareness to those around us that we need to move out of the way so that they can take care of whatever matter the emergency vehicle has to tend to. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I do understand, that with this new experience, I am going to need to address the anxiety as it arises. I’ve learned how to do this in other aspects of my life, and I want to share that with you all today. I’ve learned to respond to anxious thoughts with a statement. I don’t ignore the anxiety. I don’t ignore the emotion or feeling surrounded by the thoughts.

Example:

If I tell them how I feel, they’re not going to like me anymore. If I tell them how I feel, I will respect and like myself a little bit more, which will then attract a different type of individual who likes and loves me for who I truly am.

What if I don’t have enough money for XYZ? I’m creative. I can find new ways to bring in money. I will create a plan, and follow it until my goal is reached. Until then, if it’s out of my control, I’ma let it go.

What if he/she doesn’t like me? What if he/she does?

What if today’s Mindful Monday sucks? Yeah. Ohhhhhhkay.

Sometimes, things happen around us that “look like” or “feel like” an unpleasant situation from our past. That same feeling will come up, and send sirens through your body signaling that something is wrong. This does not mean that something is wrong.

As we move through our week, let’s be mindful of how often this shows up in our everyday lives. Let’s answer each anxious moment with a statement. Let’s respond to those unpleasant feelings with some reassurance, courage, and vulnerability. Each day is a new experience.

This one takes practice, but over time, it will become easier and easier. Until you reach a new experience. But by that time, you’ll know that you have everything you need inside of you to overcome.

Mindfulness is a practice. Be good to yourself. Be kind. Be patient. Be good to Y O U, whatever that looks/feels like for YOU.

With Love,

Mama Shye