My kids just went back to school yesterday after two weeks of vacation. Boy, was I ready.
Not that the vacation wasn’t great - we traveled; we baked cookies; we had grandparents visit; we played UNO; we went bike riding; we ate Swiss chocolate; we had our own little Halloween.
Lots of family time, and not many outside obligations to feel beholden to. A large part of why we uprooted ourselves this year.
I might write another blog post about the benefits of creating space for things like playing HORSE, baking cookies and hiking together.
This blog post, however, wants to be about how glad I am that they are back at school!
I have been missing my quiet time these last few weeks. Not just down time for relaxing, but actual QUIET time - when there aren’t other people in the house making noise, asking for help, wanting an audience or just plain being gregarious (yes, we have one of those).
I can hear the quiet typing of my husband in his office with the door closed. I can hear the blustery wind outside. And that is about it. The cats are both asleep on the couch next to me. And there is nothing stealing my attention away.
It feels like the perfect time to assess: What’s here now? What am I noticing in particular in this moment? What am I appreciating?
This type of questioning helps me to re-align my awareness with my inner experience. I have just spent the good part of two weeks putting energy out, interacting with the external world.
It is easy for me to go unconscious when I live that way for an extended time.
It takes a fair amount of energy for me to engage with the world so vigorously, and I find myself succumbing to old, unconscious habits of mind and body.
Yesterday was my first day of having the kids back in school, and I woke up with a whopper of a headache. I did yoga in the morning and my headache got worse. I tried some self massage which helped for merely a few moments. I have been holding on tightly for the past two weeks, wanting to experience each moment with my family.
It’s like that cramp in your hand when you get off the roller coaster. It was fun and exhilarating and, man, my hand was squeezing that bar for dear life.
Instead of my hand, this time it is my neck and shoulders that have been holding on tightly. Now that I have given them permission to ease off and let go - wham, instant headache.
So, today, I am taking the time to go inward. And be with what is here. Some fatigue, some residual headache, and relief that I can relax my mind and my body into the billowy softness of a quiet day at home.
Where have you been putting your attention lately? On your inner life or outer? What is the impact of checking in with what's going on inside in this moment?
Not that the vacation wasn’t great - we traveled; we baked cookies; we had grandparents visit; we played UNO; we went bike riding; we ate Swiss chocolate; we had our own little Halloween.
Lots of family time, and not many outside obligations to feel beholden to. A large part of why we uprooted ourselves this year.
I might write another blog post about the benefits of creating space for things like playing HORSE, baking cookies and hiking together.
This blog post, however, wants to be about how glad I am that they are back at school!
I have been missing my quiet time these last few weeks. Not just down time for relaxing, but actual QUIET time - when there aren’t other people in the house making noise, asking for help, wanting an audience or just plain being gregarious (yes, we have one of those).
I can hear the quiet typing of my husband in his office with the door closed. I can hear the blustery wind outside. And that is about it. The cats are both asleep on the couch next to me. And there is nothing stealing my attention away.
It feels like the perfect time to assess: What’s here now? What am I noticing in particular in this moment? What am I appreciating?
This type of questioning helps me to re-align my awareness with my inner experience. I have just spent the good part of two weeks putting energy out, interacting with the external world.
It is easy for me to go unconscious when I live that way for an extended time.
It takes a fair amount of energy for me to engage with the world so vigorously, and I find myself succumbing to old, unconscious habits of mind and body.
Yesterday was my first day of having the kids back in school, and I woke up with a whopper of a headache. I did yoga in the morning and my headache got worse. I tried some self massage which helped for merely a few moments. I have been holding on tightly for the past two weeks, wanting to experience each moment with my family.
It’s like that cramp in your hand when you get off the roller coaster. It was fun and exhilarating and, man, my hand was squeezing that bar for dear life.
Instead of my hand, this time it is my neck and shoulders that have been holding on tightly. Now that I have given them permission to ease off and let go - wham, instant headache.
So, today, I am taking the time to go inward. And be with what is here. Some fatigue, some residual headache, and relief that I can relax my mind and my body into the billowy softness of a quiet day at home.
Where have you been putting your attention lately? On your inner life or outer? What is the impact of checking in with what's going on inside in this moment?
 | Jessica Curtis is a professional coach who helps people cultivate intention and live from a place of meaning and authenticity. If you think you could benefit from working with Jessica or want to invite her to work with your group, reach out to start a conversation. |
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