2 August 2024
In the past four years of living in Maine I have made the observation that summers here have a very distinct pace. Fast.
And I feel the sweetness of it. The longer days, the increased light, the beauty of both the water and the forested mountains all have a different taste in the summer months. For me, this luxurious taste changes form slightly but continues deliciously into the fall months of September and October (my favorite season.)
But as I sit here, just past the peak of summer I feel the fastness surrounding me, the pace which determines how many beach days, how many trips up north, or up the coast we can fit in. How much fun can we possibly enjoy before the days start to get shorter, and the darkness entices us once again to enjoy some hibernation, and inward reflection instead. It feels, to me, like this polarity of light and dark – activity and restoration is what creates this unmistakable quality of sweetness.
This makes me think about one of the more valuable things I’ve learned over the years of studying somatics – especially yoga and meditation. That is the way to notice when I am moving away from present time and into a thought form based in the past, or (in my case especially) in the future. We all know its importance – we’ve heard “you’re going to miss it when it’s gone” all too many times. And it is a practice – every day. Not sure it gets easier for anyone, but perhaps the path to that door called presence is more well marked the more we use it.
What I’m learning about while working with people somatically is that orienting to the present moment is so crucial and sometimes so unfamiliar. We are raised in a point A to point B culture (most of us). However, we might not know what our healing path looks like and assuming we know the way can sometimes lead to dead-ends, or more importantly can obscure the true path. I believe we all get there eventually, but doesn’t it sound lovely to get yourself on a more direct route, instead of entering a revolving door of partial wellness recovery and then relapse, or worse?
Expansion into uncharted territory is tough, but critical. And none of this is to say if you have degenerative conditions, or relapsing symptoms that you are at all doing anything wrong. Another important tenet of a mindful tradition is that life will contain suffering, pain, and a variety of trials. Partnering with people of open-minded curiosity continues to be my professional (as well as personal) mission these days.
In the meantime, I am taking rest when I can, and reeling in all the hot, fast, exhilarating adventures that I can until nature tells me it is time to shift gears.
