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For the past few years, I tend to skim the headlines online every few days.  I usually feel rushed and unfocused.  However, for the past three weeks, I have had the greatest luxury (privilege?) to be able to sit down in the morning and read two newspapers from the previous day. My partner has been bringing them home from work for me.  With most people coming back to work in a few days and my own demands, I am not sure that this opportunity will last.

I had forgotten how satisfying and peaceful it is to actually experience holding a paper and slowly reading or reviewing each article.  The eyes travel over the page differently than on a computer screen.  You can actually take it all in – even while skimming parts of the page. (I don’t care how big the screen is or if you use an  iPad the qualities are not the same.)  The movement from page to page when continuing an article has its own sensation.  My attention is there in the moment and present.  It is the experience as much as the information that is of importance.  It doesn’t feel like another task to mark of my “to do” list.  On the contrary it is rejuvenating.

This activity has a number of benefits which all relate to balance:

• It sets the stage for the day ahead by forcing me to slow down and breathe.
• It clears my mind and at the same time stimulates my thinking.
• I have convinced it changes the way my brain waves are snapping . . .  less alpha, more beta and the right amount of theta?
• Finally, it keeps me current in the world of what is really going on.

What are you doing to start the day refreshed and grounded?

Here is a short related video of a presentation that I attended this summer at the Lift10 Conference in Geneva:

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