Hello Darling,
May these words breathe nourishment into your life even though (or maybe especially because) the world looks a bit crazy right now.
On a recent day with “all the things” piling on with no sign of stopping, I came upstairs trembling during a short work break. Shaking, really. My insides couldn’t seem to settle on imploding or exploding.
My next client was scheduled to arrive in twelve minutes.
Did I eat? Hydrate? Help my youngest daughter with the holy hell that seems to be her online school? Melt into a puddle? Reach out to a friend for support? Don winter gear and yak tracks so I could walk outside on the ice for maybe 6 minutes?
I forgot all about the oxygen mask principle and opted to try to help my daughter. Yes, she probably needed it, but I suspect my real motivation was to distract myself from my feelings.
Alarmingly, when I tried to speak, words didn’t actually emerge.
Turns out you have to be able to BREATHE in order to speak, and I wasn’t doing either very well….which is when I realized I was having an anxiety attack – something I hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Not a shining moment.
Except that something magical happened…and it quickly became one.
My diminutive but mighty daughter looked at me with concern. Mind you, this girl kind of hates talking about her feelings and never wants to see a counselor no matter what’s going on. Which can be consternating because I AM a counselor who LOVES talking about feelings.
Turns out she knew EXACTLY what to do.
She got up and wrapped her arms around me from behind while saying:
“This is how we breathe.”
And then she breathed me deeply and steadily…belly pushed into my low back, returning to the space I carried her in my womb, reminding me of the most important things – the breath of life, literal inspiration, delivered with love.
Inside of 3 minutes, EVERYTHING felt better.
My nervous system settled, I began thinking more clearly and elusive creative problem-solving came back online.
So Dearheart, if this is a day when YOU need to be breathed (and who amongst us doesn’t!), I’m sending you a GIANT warm embrace.
Please allow your sacred imagination to guide you….to a safe space…. with a safe person…holding you from behind….while taking slow, deep, steady breaths….to remind you that you are loved, you are supported, and you can breathe.
You are worth it!
With Love and Alchemy,
Christy
P.S. Want more? Here are 10 easy ways to nourish your spirits right now.
I was late. I ushered my last client out the door, hopped in my van and flew the mile and a half up our dirt road. I was driving more than a little too fast, weaving between resident “road cows” (compliments of free range cattle country).
