Over the weekend I decided to empty my brain.

Boy, did I need that!

I’ve just been feeling like my brain has been overloaded and I think the reason is because my brain is overloaded!

Given my cabin fever with Covid and the freezing temps we’ve had here in town, plus all the crazy news and social media buzz that surrounds us and a very busy and full work schedule, left me mentally exhausted by the end of the week.

A number of great emptying ideas came to me that allowed me to get away from it all create some distance from the day to day. Here are a few of the things I did:

1. One of my superpowers is organizing. I love going through items, deciding which are critical and which can be trashed. I cleared out the pantry, got papers organized for taxes and threw away a bagful of “stuff”. It is a mindless activity, of course but one that allows me to just drift off and clear out both my head and my closets.
2. One of the gifts of the Pandemic for me has been my regular mediation practice. I recently ran across a story about Tina Turner and her long relationship with Buddhism. My further search led me to a chant that she recites as part of her practice. Doing my morning meditation to her voice was a beautiful way to be carried away on the waves of her magnificent voice
3. On one of these cold afternoons, with the sun low in the sky, we went out for a hike in the woods near our house. The crunchy snow beneath our feet and the crisp air filling my lungs required my full attention creating yet another opportunity to let it all go and just appreciate the moments in nature.

Being intentional about actions to take to restore some mental and physical balance is essential for mental well-being. What kinds of actions do you take to keep your head clear?

Happenings

The Leadership Café

Kevin Jenkins is a longtime friend from Leadership Pittsburgh and who is now President and CEO of  Manchester Bidwell Corporation. MBC is an amazing non-profit organization that has worked with youths and adults for over 53 years to transform their lives and to build communities.

Founded by Bill Strickland, MBC is now a global force for restoring lives. Among the incredible programs they sponsor is their MCG Jazz which brings world class jazz musicians to their Pittsburgh theater for concerts and which helps preserve and promote the Pittsburgh Jazz Community.