Teaching my children to drive was one of my life’s biggest challenges.  Giving calm instructions while they hit the gas and scared the bejeebers out of me was almost impossible.    I imagine all new drivers are overly confident about their ability to accelerate and then brake when needed.  Yet seasoned drivers know that time and space to react are directly linked to knowing when to accelerate and when to back off.  Covering the brake is a necessary skill to allow just a moment of pause before the next driving decision.  Driving is a lot like moving through our fast-paced lives.  Sometimes we find ourselves going too quickly to take time to cover the brake. 

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In order to be successful, we have to know when to pause.  Maybe we can find this pause in our breath.  Our slow, steady exhalations can allow the body to tune in and calm itself.  Perhaps we find the time to pause in meditation.  We permit the mind to contemplate the peaceful spaces we create.  Physical practices like yoga, running or walking bring a calming rhythm to our mind and our body.  By covering the brake in our busy lives, the acceleration finds the power of EXCELation.