Old man makes new friend

Sometimes I just want it to stop. Talk of COVID, protests, looting, brutality. I lose my way. I become convinced that this “new normal” is real life. Then I meet an 87-year-old who talks of living through polio, diphtheria, Vietnam protests and yet is still enchanted with life.

 

 

He seemed surprised when I said that 2020 must be especially challenging for him. “No,” he said slowly, looking me straight in the eyes. “I learned a long time ago to not see the world through the printed headlines, I see the world through the people that surround me. I see the world with the realization that we love big. Therefore, I just choose to write my own headlines. “Husband loves wife today.“ “Family drops everything to come to Grandma’s bedside.” He patted my hand. “Old man makes new friend.”

His words collide with my worries, freeing them from the tether I had been holding tight. They float away. I am left with a renewed spirit. My headline now reads “Woman overwhelmed by the spirit of kindness and the reminder that our capacity to love is never-ending “

 

 

Its hard sometimes hey.... To write these headlines, with just so much going on.

 

The head has been feeling extra heavy. Extra loud... That constant talking to ourselves.

 

The silly season is coming (well, lets be real, it feels like it is already here!).

 

With the calendar filling up, what can you do to protect your own energy?

 

For me, this is moving my body (even if everything points to no, make it happen!), finding some quiet time (I know this is far and few in between for some of us) and getting my admin and finances in order (that last one is a weird one, but I promise you when I feel on top of these things a settled nervous system often follows).

 

If its helpful for you, here are 5 ways to protect your own energy as we start to move into the holidays:

 

1. Set Boundaries

Make those boundaries clear with your dear family and fiends. Let them know what your limits are for social interactions and commitments. Its ok to say no to things that drain you or stress you out.

 

2. Self-Care

Whatever self care means to you, make it a priority even more so during this time. Walks, yoga, meditation, pottery,  baths, reading, video games... Whatever. Do more of that. Try to also get enough sleep (not always in our control I knowwwww...) and do your best to eat the stuff you know makes you feel good in the long run.

 

3. Manage Expectations

If you are the human who organizes all the things as we move into the holiday season, be mindful of what type of expectations you set (for yourself, or for those around you), and do your best to not get too attached to them <3

 

4. Delegate or Ask For Help

Again, for those who organize lots of the things... its totes ok to ask for help too :)

 

5. Practice Gratitude

Its what the holiday season is meant to be all about anyways right? Practicing gratitude can help us shift focus away from stress and anxiety. I write daily in my Dreamy Moons Journal (which we just restocked at the St Marys Studio btw!).

You can also spend a small moment of every day in the busy schedule to send a voice memo to someone you are thinking about to tell them how much they mean to you, as well as of course check in (tagging them in funny memes don't always count).

 

Anywho, that's all I wanted to share this beautiful Tuesday.

 

Hoping it served, otherwise feel free to forward to someone that needs to hear it.

 

Thankyou for being here and being part of this community.

 

Annika 

P.S our new Gentle Vinyasa class at Penrith starts THIS Wednesday at 7:15pm.

P.P.S Restorative Yoga and Sound Healing workshop is THIS FRIDAY! 7pm at the Penrith Studio.

P.P.P.S Shoutout to Taiya from AWOL Creations for painting our St Marys studio storefront. She is also responsible for all the beautiful inside our walls also.