hey y’all,
since November 8th, i’ve felt like i haven’t had a moment to sense myself. between family responsibilities and holiday, i’ve been detached from my body — constantly doing without noticing the weight of my eyes, the hunch of my shoulders, the weakness of my ankles, the tension in my neck until just this week.
i’m noticing how much the American holiday season calls for even more productivity during the seasons where the natural world is preparing for hibernation. we have to produce for family gatherings, holidays, change in seasons, and end-of-year work. American/ capitalistic culture requires, maybe even trains us, to continue moving at an unnatural active rhythm and current. but it’s not just in us, it’s in the way our families, friends, and colleagues associate with us. to be in rhythm we have to detach from our bodies and be around bodies that perpetuate this current with us.
while capitalism and the other -isms ask us to do to have, embodiment asks us to be to live. specifically, what is the body state we are living in and is it the state we want to be in?
take a moment to check in with one or more of the following: your posture, your sense of space (is it vast or close?), your breathing, the weight of your body, places of tension or weakness and even the temperature of different parts of your body. these are what i’m calling attunement points to your body — what is the story your body is telling of the state you are in and the current you're dealing with?
by taking this moment and noticing all of my attunement points, i've gained access to my ability to say yes & no again based on how i feel to make subtle shifts: less computer, less projects, more breathing, reading, and phone calls. i admit this is a privilege especially during capitalism’s peak season, it's also one i didn't realize i had until i tuned in and responsibly/ resourcefully expand to others as i can. i/we can do this season differently even in a small way, we have to decide to tune in and bring others along with us.
self-practice: sit down and check in with your attunement points, what comes up? what's the state you are in? what is the state you want to be in and how can you get closer to it this season despite the current? write it down, make it happen even if for a second.
go deeper: pick one attunement point and check in with it during different activities throughout your week. what do you notice?
