The major world religions all have observances this month centered on peace, re-centering, and — to some extent — solitude. For me, it’s Lent, but even if there’s no particular faith tradition you belong to, the change of seasons or the changing of the clocks, or the parade of planets in the sky, might give you a reason to take a moment to reflect and recalibrate.

My first Lenten reflection was about taking time to sit in silence. If thoughts popped into my head, I was instructed to acknowledge them and let them pass. The challenge was, for just 10 minutes, to be still and listen to the silence.

Boy, was it a challenge! I seem to have created within myself a perpetual motion machine — there is never a dull moment. But being busy is not the same as being productive, being focused, or being grounded in the moment or in a mission. Sometimes, being busy is just a distraction, and distractions often leave us unable to see a message, path, or meaning that........

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