Hello.
I mean that sincerely.
Hello.
I'm glad you're here.
I wonder.
How long it's been since someone said that to you,
Not because they needed something,
Not out of habit or politeness,
But just because they meant it.
And I want to gently suggest that you might try saying it to yourself this morning too.
Not out loud,
If that feels a bit strange.
Perhaps just inwardly.
A small,
Quiet hello.
To the person who woke up today.
And showed up here.
Hello again.
Here you are.
Another morning,
Another chance.
Find a comfortable position,
Whether that's seated or lying down,
Whatever feels right and comfortable for you.
Dropping your shoulders.
Unclenching your jaw.
Softening your forehead.
Whenever you're ready.
Closing your eyes or lowering your gaze.
And I invite you to take a slow breath in.
And breathe it out.
And again,
Breathing in.
And out.
You've made it to another morning.
That sounds simple,
And I suppose it is,
But it's also worth acknowledging just for a moment before the day starts making demands.
You are here.
Breathing.
Present.
That is the beginning of everything.
I'd like you to think about how you usually greet yourself in the morning.
For a lot of us,
And I include myself in this.
The first thing the mind does when it wakes up is reach for the lists.
Things that need doing.
The things that went wrong yesterday,
The things to worry about today.
We greet our day with our armour already on.
What if.
.
.
Just for today.
We tried something different.
What if the first thing you offered yourself this morning was simply kindness?
Not a performance of it,
Not a long list of affirmations Just a simple,
Genuine warmth towards the person you are right now.
With all your imperfections and uncertainties and the particular weight you're carrying this week.
That person deserves a kind greeting.
So try it.
Inwardly,
Gently.
I see you.
I'm glad you're here.
Somewhere outside right now,
The world is waking up too.
A bird is singing because that is what it does every morning,
Faithfully,
Without needing a reason.
The light is arriving slowly,
Softly,
The way it always does.
Something is growing somewhere.
Something is turning towards the warmth.
The world doesn't know what kind of day you had yesterday.
It doesn't know your worries or your history.
Or the things you're dreading later.
It just offers itself again,
Fresh,
As it always does.
That is its greeting to you every single morning.
Remember that you are part of this world.
You belong to it as much as the bird does,
As much as the light does,
As much as anything that is simply,
Quietly alive.
Let these affirmations land wherever there is softness,
No pressure.
Just a gentle hello from these words to wherever you are this morning.
Hello again!
I am glad to be here.
I greet myself this morning with kindness.
I belong to this day exactly as I am.
Whatever yesterday held,
Today is new.
I am enough.
Take one last slow breath in.
And let it go.
Carry this small greeting with you today that quiet hello to yourself.
And when things get busy or hard or noisy,
See if you can find it again.
Just for a moment.
Just a small kind acknowledgement to yourself.
You are here and you are enough.
When you're ready,
Gently open your eyes.
Hello Day,
Let's see what you've got.
