“Honestly hadn’t planned on giving up quite this much for Lent.”1
Holy unexpected changes. This tweet is spot on. So much has changed. A week ago, we were still talking about gathering in person for worship. One could meet a friend at a restaurant or coffee shop. We expected to hold election primaries. Now, some of us have much more to do, and some of us have much fewer demands on our time and energy. The daily reality of our lives has shifted, and we do not know for how long.
I have noticed that the stress of all this change can creep up on me. When I neglect to pause, check in with myself, and take a breath, the stress can become overwhelming. In this season, I have been attempting to practice checking in with myself more frequently and being intentional about engaging in activities that are grounding.
This week, I asked you to share what helps you to feel grounded. As I looked over all your responses, I noticed they fall into three categories:
Being present to Others
friends
children
family
pets
cuddles with my cats
worship
talking it out with a trusted friend
reading
Being present to the Physical World
nature
walking in the park
taking a walk in the sun
playing piano
music
drumming
puzzles
crafts
games
working with my hands
crafting
yoga
swimming
quilting
Being Present to Self
remembering to breathe
breathing
silence
quiet time
I notice the longest of these lists is of ways we can be present to the physical world. Grounding is a reconnecting with what is real, and the physical world helps get us back into our bodies. Some of these can fit into multiple categories. I haven’t any data on this, though I imagine that the more categories an activity falls into the more effective a tool it is for grounding. The more of us that can show up and be connected, the more grounded we will become.
As you practice pausing to ground in this season, a blessing:
May you feel the earth beneath your feet;
May you sense your feet upholding you;
May you perceive the beating of your own heart;
May you experience the Spirit of God within you,
This day, and every day.
Rachael
1 Crouch, Andy (ahc). “Honestly hadn’t planned on giving up quite this much for Lent.” March 2020. Tweet.