I’m trying to take a moment amongst the chaos to relax and reflect. Both the chaos that is a family holiday – kids, sun, packing, flying – and also the existential chaos that we’re alll swimming in – even without mentioning either politics (never will) or astrology (often do), it’s safe to say there’s A Lot Going On.
it looks pretty but the sea smashing into the rocks is also violent as…
It’s not always possible to take a break. As beautiful as it would be to switch off all our responsibilities and take off to a quiet beach / cottage in the woods / holy hillside / wherever your souls renews itself, the reality is that the week-by-week, day-by-day, minute-by-minute stuff is overwhelming and all-consuming. Even the joyful stuff can be a lot! (Spoken as a mum of four at the end of the aforementioned big family holiday…)
So what to do?
Micro-rests.
I’m becoming an expert in the micro-rest. Sometimes it looks like staring out to sea for a moment, or letting my gaze drift in the middle of a boisterous dinner, or tuning out of a conversation between the people I’m standing next to. Sometimes it’s more intentional – a doodle with my pen on a napkin, counting the petals of a flower, consciously breathing while I wait for the lift or watch the kids or walk from one place to another.
It’s noticing when my shoulders are raised, and lowering them. It’s paying attention to my posture, making sure I’m standing or sitting in the healthiest way. It’s remembering to relax my face before someone asks me what’s wrong! It’s a squeeze of a little hand or a kiss on my salty cheek. Tiny things that root me to the moment I’m in.
Like I said, there’s a lot going on, and the impulse is to read all about it, listen to pods or the news or watch programs or flick through the paper and try and absorb EVERYTHING so that we can understand SOMETHING!! (Jupiter in Gemini, expanding the need to learn & discover to the point of overdoing it, if we’re not careful.) And that impulse is fine as long as it’s managed, but it’s also really important to stay present and grounded, give ourselves time to truly absorb what’s important to us and discard the rest, and help our nervous systems see that we’re not under threat – there’s no danger in standing still, maybe closing your eyes, putting your warm hand on your chest and smiling into your body.
Micro-rest, my friend.
That’s my gift to you this crazy gorgeous special full moon.
Share the love and give someone else the gift of a micro-rest!
