What happens when we don’t have space in our lives for something new to be born?
About fifteen years ago I was working for a local environmental services company and I learned a lot about stormwater pollution prevention. And how even loose sediment is a pollutant.
Imagine a stream. At the bottom of the stream there are spaces between rocks (interstitial spaces). This is essential to have for salmon. Here’s why: salmon need a place to lay their eggs.
The problem occurs when there is stormwater runoff from a nearby site that contains sediment (dirt) that gets carried into the stream. If there is enough of it, it can fill up the interstitial spaces preventing salmon from having a place to lay their eggs.
I think this can serve as a helpful metaphor.
We all need interstitial spaces.
And the problem is that our lives are often so packed, back-to-back meetings. And we habitually fill up all our interstitial spaces, grabbing our device.
What would happen if you intentionally created, carved out some interstitial spaces in your day?
Even five minutes.
And you did it every day.
Five minutes to look out the window and breathe deep.
Five minutes to hug your child.
Five minutes to ponder.
Five minutes to give yourself space for integration.
Space for things to emerge that haven’t been yet.
Space for something new to be born.
What might be possible?
#resilience #taking-breaks #pausing