Sometimes I get going too fast.  In fact often.  My mind chews on my work, my finances, my parents, the traffic.  Round and round.  I forget to breathe.  Pretty soon I’ve exhausted myself for no good reason.

The other day I was in a hurry to get somewhere, not here.  I rushed out the door into the courtyard of the Spanish Colonial apartment building where I live.  The sun was shining on the coy pond.  The palms and banana trees were making soft shadows on the flagstone.  Something made me pause.  There floating just below the surface in the pond was Sweetie Pie, a little turtle.  She was so still that I thought she was dead.  Then she made the smallest movement with her leg, just a small swish in the water, enough to keep her afloat.

Seeing her reminded me of times I lay on my back, floating in warm water, sun on my body, blue sky.  My deep even breathing and my arms splayed.  I let myself be held by the water, and it did.

When I get too wound up, I think of Sister.  I take her into my body.  She slows me down, reminds me to breathe, to let go.  There’s nowhere to go.