Hey there,
Ready or not,
It's back to school season and that can bring a lot with it.
New schedules,
New people.
Your responsibilities.
And perhaps new butterflies too.
Whether you're heading into a classroom,
Sending someone you love into one,
Or welcoming students through your door.
Let's take a few minutes to breathe before this new chapter begins.
To start,
Find a comfy position,
Seated or lying down.
Take your time to let the body settle in the present moment.
And bring your awareness to your breath.
Notice the details of each in and out.
Take a big breath in.
And a long,
Slow breath out.
Twice more like that.
Breathing in deep.
Breathing out long.
Very nice.
Once more on your own.
And let your breath return to a normal,
Slow rhythm.
With a sense of calm and clarity washing over you.
As you move through these first few days and weeks of the new school year,
Look for little opportunities to make your day easier.
Like planning meals and internal check-ins.
Or find ways to brighten someone else's day.
A smile,
A kind word.
A helping hand.
Now imagine how you want the start of the school year to be.
Imagine how you want today to unfold.
And imagine how you want to feel this morning as you get everything ready.
Choose a simple word to be your focus or anchor.
Like patience,
Curiosity,
Or understanding.
Take a moment to visualize what success looks like to you.
Picture yourself moving through the school day with calm confidence.
Handling challenges with ease.
And connecting with others.
May you enter this school year with a little curiosity for what you'll learn and discover.
May you enter the school year with a little compassion for everyone going through the same uncertainties and adjustments.
And may you have a little patience for yourself as you find your new rhythm.
Seal this practice with a deep,
Full inhale.
And a soft sigh exhale.
Gently open your eyes if you had them closed.
Lift the corners of your lips up into a gentle smile.
You've got this.
And until next time,
Have a good one.
