Slowing Down
This week I have been sick. I don't know if I picked something up from the hospital transporting my son to his post transplant appointments (most likely) or if my body is just stressed from the go, go, go of this year (also probable). Or maybe it is a combination of many factors...a primordial soup of just the right combinations. Regardless, it has forced me to slow down just the tiniest bit.
It is the kind of sick that gets in your bones (or chest) and just settles in. There is no quick fix. And when there is no quick fix, the only thing that soothes is the slow fix of self care. There is an art to that when you already don't feel good and have no motivation to even do your normal routine, let alone things that are good and healing for yourself. But sometimes it is exactly only those things that call to us when we are run down and in need of the most care.
A hot steamy bath with some salts to soak in and let your airways open up...
A cup of herbal tea that soothes the throat and delivers the perfect combination of potent plant properties that gently encourage the healing process...
Rubbing a thicker body butter into the skin to soothe dry, parched winter skin...
Lighting a candle, diffusing oils, or bringing natural fragrance into our rooms to delight the senses...
And then there is the natural slowing down of the season that is winter.
There is something magical about bringing in our own lights when the sun starts missing from our days. Yes, it brings a twinkle of holiday joy to our family gatherings, but it is more than that. It is good for the soul to supplement our days with the warmth of candlelight or even a string of twinkle lights around a window. To extend the light on the darkest of days helps heal something inside of us both mentally and physically. Our cortisol levels go down during a time of stressful demands of holiday activities and lists of must-do's.
Just the simple act of lighting a candle brings a small amount of ritual to our day. The simple act of heating water and pouring it over healing herbs is nourishing in ways that extend beyond plant medicinals. The simple act of drawing a bath, of letting the steam bloom beautiful botanicals helps to bring our senses into the moment. It grounds us. Especially during a time when we need to be connected and grounded to the natural world that has seemed to disappear and left only brownish gray memories of a world that seemed so alive just a few short months ago.
Even with that, we can heed our lesson to slow down.
Nature has slowed. The last of the leaves have fallen. The world seems quiet and dead. Yet nothing is further from the truth. Nature is just retreating into herself and doing the inner work of growth that needs to happen before spring blooms. Winter is a time for rooting...for extending deep within and doing the silent, but important steps of preparation for growth.
We can do the same things. Eating our roots to nourish with vitamins is a great place to start. Slow cooking bones into broth and turning the little we have into rich soups feed both the body and soul. Turning inwards for reflection while sipping a warm herbal tea can lead to visions of growth for the new year, mental clarity during stressful times. Winter is a great time for dreaming, list making, reprioritiizing, goal setting, making future plans for future growth. We can also slow and indulge in hobbies that the rest of the year never seem to give us time for.
Knitting by candlelight...
Curling up with that book you've been meaning to read all year long...
Papercrafting to add touches of beautiful to your days...
Planning gardens with vision boards...
All are so important for helping us to unlock our own roots and do inward growth that will spill out to our external worlds in fruitful ways we might not even be aware of.
Sipping a hot drink, listening to soft music and allowing yourself to indulge in the act of daydreaming...
So, take the time to slow down this week. It's okay. Indulge in something that will feed you this winter so that you can go into the new year feeding others.
