Pause Practices-January Lookback
January was unkind. As each week ebbed and flowed, we met the challenges with short bursts of joy and ease. When we were in low tide with the flu, bone chilling temps and cancelations a plenty, hibernation took over. In high tide, a mini trip to Estero, FL and a family salt cave helped reset. As I look back on what helped keep me (and the family) put one foot in front of the other, it’s pausing and learning new things.
What I Did to Pause:
Healing: Infared Bon Charge Wrap– red light Therapy every other day on my gut and back muscle resource. It’s used for muscle recovery and increased mental focus.
Reading – Life Brief in my “Read as a Writer” book club. Life Brief actionable items mirroring my Coaching style with tools that feel accessible (aka PRACTICAL!) Bonnie’s easy idea-a brain dump journaling takes 5 mins to jot down everything. The Artist Way focused on morning pages of emotional daily journaling, Life Brief is less structured offering the opportunity write to do lists or anything at all. The theory is getting out of your mind opens up space for creative thinking.
Left my house, finally – Snow and ice is winter at its best. In early January, Jon and I headed to Brooklyn for a night to have a good meal. I never eat a proper breakfast but the Ricotta Toast at Sundays in Brooklyn was chef’s kiss.
Watching: Paris Agency on Netflix is now a family favorite. The family dynamic, the views, the apartments feels nuanced in the best way.
More Healing: Cold Laser (good for reducing pain and inflammation, creates faster tissue healing, regeneration of damaged tissue. Acupuncture / Fascia release (lowers pain and inflammation, reduces scar tissue build up), Lymphatic massage (to detoxify all of the surgery Trauma) on repeat, too.
Pausing for my Mental Health:
Pausing before answering: This isn’t not always perfect but sleeping on a reply helps: What is too much for your nervous system in January? I’m only adding what fuels my values for the next few months. This has left space and boredom, good boredom.
Listened to Serviceberry….Robin’s voice about how we are destroying our planet is a sweet example of ways nature knows the answers to preservation in a way humans do not.
Ease Only: When things feel upstream, I’m no longer putting energy towards it. There is a lesson in detachment in 2025.