by Nancy Oelklaus, Ed. D.

My husband and I just returned from 5 days in paradise. I took naps on the beach, floated in the pool, enjoyed a massage, read a fabulous book, and just sat mesmerized, watching the waves so regularly crash against the rocks.

We also did a little island exploring. People didn’t drive like we do in the city where I live. In fact, the lanes were often not marked; highway signs were missing or confusing. Even when we had printed directions, we often got lost. “Eleven stoplights” might be twelve, or only six. When we got into the rental car, we knew we would arrive at our destination, but we had no idea how long it would take or whether or not we would get lost once or several times along the way. We just knew we’d get there, and we “went with the flow.”

What a fabulous experience to be in traffic on strange roads and not be exasperated–to be living in the moment, not allowing fear or anxiety–to have faith that we would find the way; we just didn’t know how it would happen.

From that experience, I’m still “floating.” I understand more fully what “being in the moment” means. Now my goal is to stay in that wholeness, that freedom from fear and control, in my familiar surroundings.