|
A deep, long exhale.
That is what November 7 felt like for so many of us, including myself. When you have been holding your breath all week –no, all year– you recognize what it feels like to exhale and relax. The US Elections this week has kept millions of people with their breaths held, anxiety high, and stressed about what will the outcome be.
Taking this moment to exhale and having permission to hope is a huge relief. But it's also important to note what the quality of our breath has been this past year especially.
When did we begin to hold our breath? Was it when we first heard of the Corona Virus outbreak and saw its spread begin to reach out doorstep? Was it when we first came into lock down? Was it when we got the news of someone we knew being affected by illness? Was it when we saw the death tole and feared for our family and friends? Was it when we saw the video of George Flyod literally saying, “I can’t breath”? Was it the millions of protestors who took to the street soon after chanting these same words? Was it the ever growing political tension that divided us so deeply?
...I noticed I held my breath even as I wrote that.
To finally exhale after all that, even for a day, is significant.
Take a deep, long exhale
Our bodies have been holding on to more stress than we perhaps even realize. But what is hopeful is that our bodies can also heal. We can recognize the heaviness of the this world AND recognize our ability to breathe through it all.
I often look towards nature as a teacher in how to live in this world.
When it comes to letting go of resistance, I think of the trees.
Fall is one long exhale, and the trees are so expert and exhaling all their leaves off of their bodies. They hold on all year, and then when it’s needed, they take a deep exhale and courageously drop their remaining leaves.
You might think the trees look vulnerable and bare without their leaves. But really, they are waiting. Waiting patiently because they know Spring will come.
The blooms already live within them but choose to stay dormant. Because the beginning of winter is the time to rejuvenate and turn inwards. It's the time take a deep long exhale and contain our energy. It’s a time of hopeful patience. Because the spring will come again…but until then, we take this time to care for our bodies, minds, and hearts.
We exhale fully and release the tension. We keep breathing. We take our first step towards healing.
If anything, remember that the trees give permission to you today to take a deep, long, rejuvenating exhale.
|
