Feels like it's been awhile.
My concept of time has been shifting over the last 6 months. You too? Why does it seem like it’s slowed down in some ways and then not in others? It’s August y’all! What happened to May, June, and July?
Even though it may feel difficult or wrong to feel pleasure while others in the world are suffering, I hope you are taking some moments to enjoy summer. Joy is nourishing. This is my most favorite time of year. I love the heat, and wow, has it been hot! I love having the windows open. I love the green and the gardens. I love working on my screened in porch with the sun and the breeze flowing in. I love not wearing a coat. I love being barefoot. I love the feel of the sun on my skin. I love swimming in beautiful places like this watering hole that I plopped into on the Bristol Trail Network while on an early morning walk a few weeks ago.
If you live near Bristol, Vermont and like to walk, check out the Bristol Trail Network River Trail. It’s gorgeous! There’s also some interesting landmarks of Bristol history. Like the whole section of a hill side that has old cars half buried in it. They are essentially an erosion barrier now holding the hillside in place. Or the remains of a factory that was once the largest coffin producer in the country. It's kind of cool to imagine how Bristol has changed over the generations.
I’ve learned a lot about my community—and myself in relationship to my community during the pandemic and this time of social unrest and upheaval. I’ve explored more places and taken more walks. I’ve watched as community members, schools, and businesses have adapted to all the challenges of staying safe—and staying solvent. With friends and neighbors, I’ve shared gratitude for the unexpected gifts of slowing down and staying put. I’ve shared lament, sorrow, and frustration at what and who we’ve lost. I've opened my eyes, ears, and heart and am learning everyday how to be a better neighbor and ally.
I can feel my anxiety and the energy in my community rising around what will happen in the fall. The uncertainty of it all is hard to be comfortable with. I find myself taking a lot of deep breaths and coaching myself in trusting in humanity and the growing momentum to change for the better.
Speaking of deep breaths, I can’t express enough how helpful having a daily breathwork practice has been through all of this. It's really helped me hang out with what's uncomfortable more and that has led to some amazing shifts in my insights about how I want to be in the world and my confidence that I can handle challenges. Since I have been sharing these practices with others more, I’ve gotten feedback that they too have found it really helpful in being able to manage stress, increase energy levels, as well as sleep better. That's been true for me as well which is great because I've always been a good sleeper but started to develop some pandemic insomnia this spring.
The best part about a breathwork practice is the cost/benefit ratio. For very little effort, you can receive tremendous results in terms of your overall sense of wellbeing and resilience. Who couldn’t use more of that right now?!
I’m going to be offering two more FREE 108 Breaths to Freedom Challenges starting in mid-August. During these 8-day challenges--for about 20 minutes per day--I will instruct you in finding your personal breath threshold and teach you breathwork techniques that help you regulate your energy and your ability to be present in the moment—which is our haven from the regrets of the past and worries about the future.
I’m hosting 3 free info sessions the week of August 10th to share more about why our breath is our most powerful resource and to give details about the 8 Day Breath Challenge. You can sign up for one of them HERE.
