My official day began with a flurry of activity as I rushed from room to room in a fury to get ready for work and a morning meeting with our COO. I was up all night with a sick dog who is now on his way to the vet. He’s passing quite a bit of blood, which appears to be associated with HEG. As I raced out the door, shouting instructions to Siri to call Russ and alert him of my 10 minute delay, I simultaneously blew Marne a kiss, while she shoved a protein drink into my free hand, thinking to myself it was going to be a very, very, very long day. Movers arrive in the morning and probably 50% of our faculty offices still needs to be packed. Russ answered. I quickly relayed my whereabouts and approximate time of arrival with an apology for being late. He must have thought I was planning some sort of elaborate commute from Belmont, a mere five miles from the office, as he calmly responded. “It’s 8:00 a.m. and the meeting starts at 9:00.”
I knew that. I’ve always known it. It’s even clearly stated on my calendar. And yet for the entire morning I’ve been living not in the present but in the future. A future of must get there and must get it done.
As I hung up the phone, I noticed for the first time a single bumper sticker on the back of a shiny, blue Honda Fit.
B R E A T H E
I was struck by the simplicity of the word. A fitting and powerful reminder. Thanks, karma, I needed that.