Welcome back.
I hope you were able to take some time following our last session to reflect further upon the value of self-care for yourself,
Both now and into your future.
In today's reflection,
We're beginning our look at the effects of social isolation,
One of the key markers in increasing our health span.
And I especially want us to look at this since it's a growing problem that has especially come to world notice since COVID,
When isolation was essential,
Impacting many of our elderly who bore this time alone in their own homes.
In my own country,
Statistics Canada reports that in 2021,
4.
4 million Canadians,
Or 11.
5% of the 2021 population,
Were living alone,
The highest proportion on record.
Beyond COVID isolation,
One of the realities of aging is the loss of family members and friends.
Through moving away,
Illness or infirmity,
Or death.
Other causes of loneliness.
And only when you begin to see the effects of this reality presenting itself in your friends or family,
Can you truly understand what many aging people are feeling as their social lives and behaviors change,
And their former life begins to slip away from them.
When a once-thriving circle of friends begins to reduce in size through death or institutionalization,
And where those remaining become less able to meet like they used to,
Is where social isolation slowly begins to seep into the landscape of aging.
And I might add here that for introverts,
It can be quite challenging to initiate new contacts or to join an already well-established group.
Concurrent with these life changes is often the need to downsize into smaller living spaces,
And the subsequent adjustments that flow from this.
New neighborhoods being one,
Often such moves,
Sometimes to be closer to family,
Involve adjustment to living above the in an apartment or condo dwelling.
And this factor of not being able to step out onto the ground can be challenging for the aging person who has always known the freedom of being able to open the door and step outside onto terra firma.
As well,
For some,
It may be difficult to meet new neighbors,
Depending on the setting,
Or not particularly liking new neighbors who live too close.
Such a move demands many adjustments that cannot be anticipated until the move actually happens.
Sometimes going well,
And sometimes not.
It is the latter that can lead to social isolation.
Chances are you know someone who might be going through these things now,
Or perhaps it has happened to you.
Our question in this exercise then is,
What does any of this have to do with Reiki?
And in a course like this,
It's a most appropriate question.
Where does Reiki come in?
For starters,
How about the first precept,
Just for today,
Do not worry.
If this simple reminder can be practiced daily,
And many times throughout the day in some cases,
It may be enough for the more negative person to get through the initial adjustment period.
And if the last Reiki precept is equally practiced,
Show gratitude to every living thing,
Through a daily gratitude practice,
Then the newly adjusting apartment dweller might be looking for the goodness in each day rather than be moaning what they are missing from their previous life.
This is living a glass half full lifestyle,
Which automatically gets the apartment dweller and the introvert to first base,
So to speak,
In this new life they are now living.
With an energy that invites positivity in all directions.
Living a glass half full lifestyle is a realistic example of aging gracefully with Reiki.
It is using elements of your Reiki practice at a time when you feel overwhelmed by change.
And rather than getting lost in worry over the future,
To instead pause and learn to live in the self-care space of now instead.
This is a healing space and it is a sacred space.
It is sacred because it forces us to come into the present moment,
To feel the present moment,
And to connect with the universe.
Living the self-care space of now is the connection of universal life force and vital life force.
The connection with the divine aspect of the universe,
With the divine aspect of you,
Through something as simple as your Reiki practice.
Think about this.
So let's relax into this healing space of now with your thoughts in this moment.
It's taking a slower breath in and a slower breath out,
A little bit longer than your inhale.
Again,
Let's do that one more time.
Breathing slowly in and slowly out.
Allowing your thoughts to be surrounded by Reiki's energy,
Going to the places inside of you that need the assurance that all will be well.
That you are not alone.
That the world around you may have changed,
But some of your supports still exist for you.
And remember who and what these supports are in your daily life.
Breathe into this healing space of remembering now.
Slowly breathing in again with me.
Breathing in and out.
And in and out.
Breathing in your memory of your healing supports and out.
And place your hands on your solar plexus,
Your core energy that may feel threatened.
And breathe into this space now.
Breathing in and out.
And allow your inner sun to return to this healing space of now with you.
As you continue to slowly breathe in and out.
And then remain in this healing space of now for as long as you need today.
Trusting that in divine time,
All will be well.
In divine time,
All will be well.
And try to breathe a smile into your solar plexus and let that smile remain on your face.
Strengthening you in this very moment.
Healing you in this very moment.
Namaste.
I bow to the divine in you.
