We just returned from our annual October retreat in Texas—three days teaching at Texas Yoga Retreat in Austin and three days of R&R in Dallas. What a delight to take some time to get away! How wonderful to relax, release and let go for a time.

You don’t have to go to Texas (or anywhere else!) in order to have a time of retreat. Retreat is not a place, but a state of mind. Here are some ideas to create an oasis of peace in your life today:

RELAX: When you relax you slow down, maybe by walking a little slower, paying attention more, or just sitting still to catch your breath. Where are you going in such a hurry anyway? I always chuckle at those drivers who are moving their vehicle at breakneck speeds, darting around the other cars only to land at the very same light I must stop at while driving the speed limit. Take your time and you’ll enjoy the journey so much more.

RELEASE: Notice those places in your body where you are carrying tension. Consciously release that tension through breathing, easy movement or gentle stretching. (Have you tried Yoga?!) You might let your inquiries go deeper to consider where this tension is coming from and what contributes to its continuing presence in your body. By being quiet and curious you can get to the source and release that tension for good.

LET GO: Yes, there are many bad things going on in the world today. Yes, we all have opinions about them. Yes, we’re going to hear all about it on the news and social media. But what benefit do these conversations, worries and accusations serve? Each of us is responsible for certain things in our own life, family, work and community. And there are specific actions we can take that will move things forward. By letting go of the things we have no control over—and that’s A LOT of things—we not only reduce stress but also free up energy for the good things we can do.

Relax, release, let go. I hope you’ll give it a try today.

This week we celebrate the birthday of my dear teacher, Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. We know that he was “born” in 1926 and “died” in 2022. But did he, really?

One of the most powerful teachings he shares is about Continuation. Rooted deep in Buddhist philosophy he affirms that everything continues. Flowers grow out of the earth, are beautiful for a time, then fade and die. But they do not really die, he says. They are simply going into hiding for a time. As they decay they become compost to create rich soil so that more beautiful flowers can grow. In this way, the flower are not “born” and they do not “die”; they simply continue.

Another way he speaks of this is the relationship between the waves and the water. He explains that we tend to live our lives as if we are waves, always riding the highs and lows of life, always feeling pushed around by the flow of life. As a result, we suffer greatly from fear and uncertainty. What we forget is that we are also water—constant, steady, always present. Knowing this we experience Continuation.

As he neared the end of his life, he often spoke of Continuation. He explained there is no need for us to be sad when we cannot see him anymore. He may not be among us physically, but he will always be with us in our sitting meditation, walking meditation, and every moment of mindfulness. All things continue and so shall he.

What a blessing to have had this incredible teacher as part of our lives at this time on the planet. Let us on October 11 celebrate the Continuation Day of Thich Nhat Hanh. He writes: “All the work of meditation is aimed at awakening us in order to know one thing: that birth and death can never touch us in any way whatsoever.” What a beautiful thought!