I don't know about you but I have felt cooped up. I tend to feel like this every February. And during a pandemic I think we all feel even more cooped up. I am thankful that I have not had to endure even a quarter of the hardships others are facing due to losing jobs, closing businesses, working and caring for kids at the same time, etc. And my heart goes out to everyone in Texas right now dealing with the extreme weather conditions and loss of power and water. Needless to say, t's an EXTRA TOUGH February for many right now.
For me, how I get out of that cooped up feeling is to walk. It's my meditation. It's my quiet place. It's what makes me happy. This happy place is different for everyone, but just that feeling of getting outside, for me, can completely change my mood.
My usual route has been completely covered in ice and snow. Sean had been telling me how icy the path has been, as he walks it every day. When I finally took time for myself and walked it, I began the walk by telling myself:
Oh, this is going to be hard.
This is going to take me longer than usual.
Maybe I'll turn back half way.
I don't like this.
I am too cold to walk.
And yes, it felt like all those things.
Then suddenly, once I had began to warm up and get comfortable with my pace, I paused and felt a moment of pure joy. The trail was beautiful. The sun was hitting the snow and making it sparkle. I was alone with just me and the birds chirping. People were sledding. It looked like a Bruegel Painting.
So I bring you back to what I was thinking at first and then what I suddenly realized as I was walking. I felt pure joy of the beauty around me. And when I realized that is what I felt, and what inspired me, my walk completely changed. My entire being changed. I felt lighter and happier. My slower walk helped me enjoy the scenery more. It was easier to walk because my thoughts didn't revolved around the negative but what was positive about this experience.
I will probably share more with you about the power of positive imagery in movement. But for now here is a little exercise you can try right now:
1. Lift your arm up and down.
2. Lift your arm up and think to your self: "My arm feels heavy like lead. I don't like doing this. This is boring."
3. Now lift your arm and think, my arm is as light as a cloud. This feels fluid and easy. My arm is floating up and down. I feel good."
Do you notice any difference?
How can you find a little joy this week?
"Winter Landscape with Ice Skaters and Bird Trap" -Bruegel
Community Golf Course with Sledders -S. Honer