I missed writing last week and I am finding myself a little behind. The events of January 6, the insurrection or coup or display of white supremacy in action – that happened in my city. In the city of 712,000 residents. Now we are occupied by a military force of over 20,000 national guardsmen. Bridges connecting one part of the city to the other are closing down. The late notice of which is causing massive trauma for those who need to access essential services, travel in, out and around this city. And yet this morning I walked along the Anacostia river waving to neighbors I see on my daily walk, marveling at the crisp sunshine and sad that armed Coast Guard boats were trolling in the water.
We are holding so much these days. It seems that it just doesn’t stop. Just when we feel prepared to take a breath, something comes up and slams us back down. It reminds me of whitewater rafting.
You see, if you fall out of the boat while whitewater rafting you will want to frantically thrash about and try to swim back to the boat. Many times, this will mean being on your stomach, trying to swim upstream and using all your energy. Being slammed by the rapids.
Any good guide, before the trip, will give you a lesson in what you should actually do if you happen to fall out of the boat while rafting. And it is counterintuitive to everything your body’s survival system will be telling you – get on your back, feet downstream, know where the boat is and let it come to you. Don’t thrash, don’t waste energy, keep your eyes on where you are going and your feet out so you can push and brace and keep yourself safe. But most of all – breathe, focus and stay calm. And trust your team, your boat mates.
I have been thinking a lot about this lately. What does this moment call for? How did we prepare for this?
Sometimes we forget that every little step we take builds up. And when we are asked to pivot, to push, to endure and be resilient – it is the preparation that got us here, ready to do so with grace and fortitude. It is also knowing our limits, our values and holding our “boat mates” accountable when they fail us. But that takes knowing ourselves, connecting deeply to our purpose and not letting that light burnout.
So I offer a practice - one for you to safely feel your ability to hold multiple things at once, to be able to navigate these tumultuous waters while staying present and prepared. For it is when we actually practice, on an embodied level, that we tap into our deep wisdom - and can light the path with our gifts.
Practice
Find a place to lie on your back. If it feels comforting place a blanket over your chest or mid-section. Allow your arms to be outstretched from your body. Feel your body connected to the floor, the places it connects. You can close your eyes or soften your gaze. Where do you feel tension? Can you create tension in your whole body? Hold that tension for 5 breaths. Then release. Where do you feel the release? Can you soften your whole body? Allow your body to soften and relax into the earth for 5 breaths. Go back and forth between these two practices, riding the waves between tension and softening until you come to a natural, resting place.