I have been struggling to write lately. I have many half-written posts left unfinished. Part of it is time. Part of it is children. Part of it is the constant rollercoaster of emotions. Mostly though it's because self-care and wellness tips can feel downright patronizing in times of struggle.
I don't have the answers any more than the next guy. We are all waiting, many of us with bated breath to see what happens next. The only thing I can think to do is to stop with the bated breath.
By bringing awareness and intention to my breath, I hope to embrace this forced pause a little more deeply, with a little more awareness and intention.
A little trick in the mindfulness world is to use a pre-existing activity in your daily life as a reminder to anchor your breath. Right now, I am getting more phone alerts and text messages than ever before so I'm using that as my reminder. Every time I reach for my phone (currently working on reducing that number through the day) I will take three intentional breaths before picking it up. Nothing fancy. No other technique. I am going to pause and bring my awareness as wholly as I can in that moment to my breath.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
"Anybody can breathe. Therefore anybody can practice yoga." -TKV Desikachar
Keep breathing. It's one thing we have in this very moment.
