quieting "brain noise" in khlong muang

I watched this sunset with two sweet guys from my hostel. We ate dinner on the beach, as the sun dipped below the horizon and streaked the sky cotton candy colors. One friend was telling us about a girl he'd been traveling with, and how he wasn't sure if she liked him back. "You're overanalyzing it," my other friend said.

"It's just your brain making noise."

The next morning, I talked with this friend over breakfast. I told him that I sometimes feel a little anxious when I think about going home. What if no one wants to hire me? What if I can't get into business school? What if the real world chews me up? "That's all brain noise," he said again, and I laughed.

Maybe if we think about our insecurities and worries as "brain noise," then they won't be so scary. These thoughts will come and go, just as the sun will always rise and set. But we can try to tune out the endless brain chatter. Then we can focus on what's important - things like: the beauty of the present, the strength in ourselves, and the kindness of others.