Saying “Yes” to You
Are you feeling wary of saying “yes” these days?
to anything?
to everything?
I so totally understand.
I find myself falling in and out of this place
where I’m feeling so out of kilter,
so out of ease,
floating out there somewhere,
and reluctant to even breathe deeply
(which, of course, I NEED!).
In case you’d like my advice, here it is:
(Here’s what I’m doing to help myself. Maybe it will help you, too.)
Say “yes” to YOU.
Say “yes” to caring for your whole self—
body-mind-spirit.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean more quiet,
more rest,
more sweetness of all kinds.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
slowing down,
(maybe considerably)
as you begin your day,
deliberately,
intentionally
moving
very
slowly.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
giving in
to the tired
and just
sitting,
looking out the window
and letting your mind and heart
wander.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
standing in the shower,
flooding yourself
with the hottest water you can stand
with the intention
of washing away
all the ugliness around you.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
standing in that same shower
and letting the tears flow
as freely
and as poundingly
as the water.
(Tears carry away cortisol, the stress hormone.)
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
waiting for the water to boil
for your tea
and brushing yourself off
from head to toe
to help you shed
the weight of the world,
so that you step into the rest of your day
freer,
clearer...
even if it’s only by a millimeter.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
walking
in the rain
in the cold
in the wind…
letting the wind
blow away
the feelings of hopelessness,
helplessness
so that you feel renewed
and invigorated
and, dare I say it,
centered
and grounded
even as the winds whip around you.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
giving yourself a moment
or a day
with a person
who you feel seen by,
heard by,
just as you are…
in your mess AND
in your glory.
(Not everyone can sit with us in our mess.
Not everyone can sit with us in our glory.)
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
saying no to something or someone
who’s not used to hearing you say no
because saying no
makes some space for you
to say “yes”
to you.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
curating what you put into your mouth
(A square of chocolate does help fend off dementors.
Trust me on this.)
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
committing to drinking a glass of water for every hour
you’re awake.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
standing in a way that makes your sacrum
and pelvic floor
feel not good, but GREAT!
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
blasting
Leslie Gore and Cyndi Lauper
and Stevie Wonder
and Pharrell Williams
and Giuseppe Verdi
over the sound of the vacuum
to help make disappear those
scraps of vileness from your rug,
your life.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
breathing out,
all the way out
to release yourself from
the chains of tension and tightness.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean focusing 30 seconds
or 5 minutes
on the you
that you want to shine.
And yes.
Saying “yes” to you
may mean
saying yes
to time away,
maybe far away
for a bit of time.
France awaits.
Summer Camp in Wisconsin awaits.
If these feel like “yes”
in your body,
please get in touch with me
so that we can explore how that might happen.
I’ve reduced the costs because,
in these turbulent times,
we all need the gentle peace
that my retreats offer.
Either way,
any way,
please say “yes” to yourself
in as many teeny tiny ways as you’re able.
Blessings,
Paula.
