I will never forget my first day of junior high.
The anticipation of new experiences was nerve-wracking,
But what gnawed at me more than anything was knowing that my classmates and I would no longer have recess.
From that day forward,
There was no more playing ball or climbing on monkey bars.
We went from class to class,
With the only true break being lunch.
In both junior high and high school,
Recess took the form of P.
E.
,
Only it wasn't really recess because it was still a class,
And there was very little,
If any,
Freedom involved.
By the time I got to college,
Many of my classmates and I had completely lost sight of any playground.
We simply went from class to class.
From there,
We went from job to job,
Obligation to obligation,
To the point that the playground was,
At the very best,
An obscured memory.
Sadly,
It became replaced with one of our worst enemies,
Stress.
All of us were still yearning for the playground.
Some made their own playgrounds in very toxic and non-constructive ways.
Probably the most tragic aspect was that we gave up holding time for ourselves in a positive way.
If you can relate to anything I just mentioned,
I invite you to gain sight of the playground once again.
Give yourself permission to give yourself some space and time.
This can be a lot more difficult than it sounds,
But the end result will be quite rewarding.
Find yourself in a way that matches your spirit.
This can be jogging,
Knitting,
Walking under starlight,
Taking a nap,
Or reading a book.
Whatever works for you is the recipe,
But you need to check out every now and then to honor yourself.
If you can't do it for yourself,
Then please do it for someone who holds you dear,
For self-care clears the path for you to be beneficial to others too.
Take a short self-care moment right now with me.
By being in a comfortable position,
Close your eyes and focus on your breath.
I invite you to bring your hands into the Prithvi Mudra by placing your ring fingers and thumbs together.
Your ring finger represents the element of earth,
So this mudra can help you align with your root chakra.
Breathe in and out slowly.
Be aware,
But not apprehensive.
As you see your playground in your mind's eye,
Think about what you see on that playground and what you would like to explore.
Think about ways to honor yourself,
For you are truly worthy of honor,
My dear friend.
Keep visualizing that playground.
There's no stress or worry or obligations there.
Play,
Play,
Play.
At your own pace,
Invite subtle movements into your body.
Let your eyes open slowly.
Take three deep breaths.
As this meditation concludes,
Remember to sense a white light of protection enveloping you as you return from the playground,
Knowing that you can go back to it any time you want.
The crow flies from me to thee to send the message.
Blessed be.
Namaste.
