However,
Tonight went.
You showed up.
That matters.
This is a space to come back to yourself.
No analysis.
No replaying.
Simply rest.
Find a comfortable position,
Lying down if you can.
Let the body be heavy.
And let your eyes close.
And simply arrive here in this moment.
Having done what you did tonight.
Take a slow breath in.
And let it go completely.
Again in.
And out,
Long and all the way.
You don't need to figure anything out right now.
Not tonight.
Simply breathe.
Dating asks us to be open.
And openness carries risk.
Sometimes a date leaves us lighter than we arrive.
And sometimes it leaves us heavier.
Perhaps disappointed.
Perhaps confused.
Wondering what it all means or whether it's worth continuing to try.
Whatever is here for you tonight.
It's allowed to be here.
You don't need to push it away.
Reframe it or find the silver lining right now.
Simply allow it.
It's real.
And it's valid.
And it makes sense.
And here is something important.
One difficult date does not define the journey.
It is simply one evening.
One small piece of a much larger story.
That is still very much being written.
Right now.
The only job is to take care of yourself.
Let's notice where the experience of tonight has landed in the body.
Simply observing.
With curiosity.
And not judgment.
We'll start at the jaw.
Notice if there is any holding.
Any tension from managing,
Performing,
Hoping.
And on the out-breath let it soften Let's move to the throat.
Sometimes we hold things we didn't say.
Or things we wish we hadn't.
Simply breathe here.
And we'll move down to the chest and the heart area.
Whatever is held here tonight.
Whether it's heaviness,
Disappointment.
Confusion.
And even relief.
Simply breathe with it.
Place your hand there if it feels right.
I see you.
And we'll move down to the stomach.
If there's any tightening here.
Any low level anxiety or unsettledness,
Any discomfort.
Breathe with it.
And on the out-breath invite it to soften,
Even slightly.
Let's move up to the shoulders.
Letting them drop.
The whole body growing a little heavier.
And a little more help.
Take a moment to sense the whole body.
Breathing.
Here.
Held.
Let's breathe together now.
Simply as a small act of care towards yourself.
And slowly through the nose receiving something gentle and out through the mouth,
Long and releasing.
Letting tonight be what it was.
Without needing to understand at all.
Breathing in.
And out all the way.
Continue at your own pace,
Simply breathing.
Simply here.
I want to offer you something now.
Slowly.
Take each phrase at your own pace.
You may wish to put your hand on your chest or your stomach.
And I'll begin.
I showed up tonight.
That took courage,
And I acknowledge that.
Feeling disappointed doesn't mean I've done anything wrong.
One evening doesn't define my worth.
My desirability.
Or my future.
I am allowed to feel exactly what I feel.
Without rushing to feel something else.
I deserve the same kindness tonight.
That I would offer someone I love.
If one of those phrases.
Were difficult to receive.
Stay with it a moment longer.
The resistance often marks the place that needs the most tending.
Let's take one final slow breath in.
And release.
Tonight is done.
You can rest now.
Tomorrow will come with its own clarity.
For now.
Simply sleep or rest.
Or do whatever brings you some quiet.
You've done enough today.
Thank you for being here with me today.
Take good care of yourself and I'll see you next time.
