Everyone these days is writing articles about mindfulness and the importance of being in the moment.
No one mentions that in Iowa, our moments are cold.
In order to survive the winter, it has been necessary for me to adopt a different morning schedule. Normally I love the early morning hours – my internal alarm is set at 5:00 AM. But since 5:00 AM in December and January didn’t seem very welcoming, I’ve given myself permission to stay in bed longer. This feels nourishing.
The following poem,written by Michael Leunig, gave me more ideas about coping with winter; I hope you will glean some helpful hints too.
Season to Cherish the Heart
We give thanks for the blessing of winter:
Season to cherish the heart.
To make warmth and quiet for the heart.
To make soups and broths for the heart.
To cook for the heart and read for the heart.
To curl up softly and nestle with the heart.
To sleep deeply and gently at one with the heart.
To dream with the heart.
To spend time with the heart.
We give thanks for the blessing of winter:
Season to cherish the heart.
Another way of cherishing is nourishing. Let me know how you cherish and nourish yourself.
Thanks for exploring the mystery – Nicky Mendenhall
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6 comments
I nourish myself by doing what I call filling the "Connie Teapot." This is how I explain it: Maybe we get drained by helping someone who is ill or needs a great deal of assistance. Maybe it's the stresses of the holiday season. Or perhaps an extremely heavy workload or a lack of time for oneself. It's like pouring from a teapot. You can pour and pour, but eventually it becomes empty if not refilled. When I feel this "draining" occurring, I make time to "fill my teapot." I do this by walking outdoors or working in my garden. I might go to a coffee shop and enjoy my favorite tea beverage while reading a good book. Or perhaps it's dinner with a really good friend accompanied by great food, wine, and conversation. Whatever fulfills me again with peace, satisfaction, and a connection with myself. Then my "teapot" has been refilled and I'm ready once again to pour from it as I go through my days.
What a good metaphor! Thanks for sharing with us.Sounds like you have an all season teapot?
Yes! I try to be vigilant about when my "teapot" is beginning to get low.
What a perfect poem for your nourishing resolution! You asked what we readers do to nourish ourselves. I find winter sleep–as you now do–especially nourishing. Most afternoons I turn on my electric blanket and get the bed good and hot. Then I take off all my clothes, turn the blanket down some, and take a nap. It is almost like going to a spa. I sink into that warmth and almost always fall asleep, sometimes for a solid hour. I fear I won't have time this afternoon, and I will miss that. Remind me to tell you of some brain research I read about over the weekend involving sleep.
Sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing. If you want – tell us about the brain research. We would like to know. I read something the other day that indicated that when we are sleeping, the brain cleans itself out – like a self cleaning oven.
I do! I'm very mindful of my "teapot" and when it needs to be refilled.
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