Hello,
Dear friend.
I'm so glad you're here.
I recognize that things might feel challenging right now.
That's why this moment has been carved for you to steady your mind and comfort your body in the here and the now.
Take some time here to take inventory of your surroundings through your senses.
Can you notice the support behind your back,
Under your bottom,
Or beneath your feet?
Can you feel the temperature of the air on your skin,
Or the weight of your clothing as it rests?
Can you notice what you smell,
Maybe what you hear,
Or what you see?
The colors and textures that live around you,
Or the gentle and welcoming darkness that lives under the lids of your eyes.
Can you notice the breath within your body,
How and where it rises,
How and where it falls?
Take a moment now to bring attention to your hands.
Whether your eyes are open or closed,
Can you bring your attention to what they look like?
The tone of your skin,
The crevices that weave and wind within your palms,
Like branches of a tree that have extended their roots,
Planting and imprinting their unique existence within this earth's mold.
Think of all the things these hands have held for you.
All the loving people,
Places,
And experiences that have met your fingertips.
All of the tears they have caught,
All of the sun rays they have soaked,
All of the meals they have made and furry friends they have pet.
All of the hardship they have endured,
And the celebratory moments they have clapped through.
Allow your palms to rest on your body,
Either face up or face down,
Whichever feels most comfortable.
And bring the pointer finger of either your right or your left hand to the base of your thumb on the opposite hand,
Resting and joined between your wrist and your thumb.
On your inhale,
Trace your pointer finger over your thumb,
Curving around the top of it and exhaling as you trace down your thumb.
On your inhale,
Slowly trace your pointer finger up your thumb,
Curving around the top of it and exhaling as you trace down your thumb.
At the valley between your thumb and pointer finger,
Inhale as you begin to trace towards the top of your pointer finger.
Exhale as you curve over the top and travel down to the webbing between your pointer finger and middle finger.
Continue on this journey,
Inhaling with each trace up your finger,
Exhaling with each trace down,
Linking breath to movement.
Continue until you reach the bottom of your pinky and then working your way once more towards your thumb.
Wherever you are in your journey,
Bring the palms of your hands together at heart center,
Allowing them to envelope in your palms hugging one another.
Take this final moment to honor yourself as you think,
As you feel,
Exactly as you are.
Please know that you matter,
That you are so loved,
That this world would not be the same without you here.
Be well,
My friend.
