Wellness with Rev N
Attention
As we near a newborn child, there is a moment when we enter into their world. Their eye catches yours, and nothing else matters. A locked gaze melds your minds wholly to each other. I recall holding my baby until my arms hurt. Nothing is more valuable than unhurried attention. Invest in it.
Awareness
As infants grow into toddlers, they become aware that things outside themselves exist, even when they don’t see those things. Not long after, the ‘why’s’ flood out as they seek to unpuzzle the world.
Drowning in Demands
As we become adults, a deluge of demands swamps our lives, and quiet presence becomes a stranger to us. We lose our mind’s eye in the rush of responsibility --- getting things done. We have all, at one time, become crushed by the constant cannons fighting for our attention, laying waste to lives.
Still Your Body
Many times, Elders have asked me to stop moving so that they can hear me. I would respond by telling them I’m not moving, to which they’d reply, ‘Then allow your hands to loosely hang when you talk.’ When I still my hands, I still my emotions. I am aware of my feelings but not overrun by them.
Embrace Posture
This stillness is especially valuable when I’ve been offended or angered. It is difficult to maintain anger with hands still and palms open. Posture can be a life-embracing presence in our relationships, such as a mother holding a child. As we notice our posture, we tune in to our thoughts and feelings.
Allow Quiet
Allow yourself quiet in the eddies of life. Take time to breathe slowly between tasks. Refocus by noticing the sights, sounds, smells, and textures around you. Linger in quiet.
Stop and Ask
Experienced guides will tell you, if you’re lost, stop moving. To keep yourself from losing your mind, stop and look to the horizon. Notice the breeze, the direction of light, and the geography, look around and ask, ‘what’s important here?’
