My mind can process things quickly. The more I learn about my nervous system the more I understand that my body does not process life as fast as my mind. So in order to give it space and time to complete processes after certain events, challenges or just the end of a day, I’ve learned I have to SLOW DOWN. I do this pretty easily with meditation because that is a mind practice I’ve developed over the years. A somatic practice requires a different level of observing and surrendering than I’m used to. But I’ve been practicing listening in different ways and slowly learning. Our bodies are always informing us and always looking for ways to organize. Every movement and sensation we feel is an attempt at coherency. How often do we listen to our bodies the way we pay attention to all of the thoughts in our mind? Christmas was emotionally and physically taxing for me personally and I was left feeling extremely out of sorts for about a week after my family left my home. I found myself judging my systems pace at which it was trying to regulate, which was only impeding the process. So...I slowed down. I sat and actually held space for my body. Not to do anything until it gave a cue for me to curiously follow and to be ok if I didn’t get any cue. But I did. I didn’t approach this from a place of dance although it can be perceived as dance. Didn’t even know the song, just had music playing during my stretch before I sat down. I felt a lot arise through the mid line of my body and through my arms and hands. I didn’t need to make sense of it. I didn’t need to understand it. I just needed to feel it, move with it and let it do it’s thing. It went for 7mins. I didn’t feel 100% regulated right after and I wasn’t expecting to. But I felt different than when I began. And I felt more ok with no longer needing it to change. This was my first morning of 2022. Practicing surrendering to what is here. I think that’s a pretty good place to start the New Year 🙏🏽