Look at all you'll derive out of bein' alive
And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart.”
- Song Lyrics by Frank Sinatra & Charles
Aznavour
As
the end of August draws near, some of us may be feeling like a balloon deflating,
wondering, “how did the summer go by so fast?”
This often contrasts significantly with our childhood experience of
summer when the days seemed longer, the weeks extended far into the future, and
the last day of summer wasn’t even a blip on our radar.
Become
more in-tune with the natural child part of yourself. That little person is still alive inside all
of us. Some of us are better able to
access him/her than others, but this part does exist, whether it is hidden at the core of you,
partially visible, or present on a daily basis
Let
your mind float back to an earlier time, see yourself in your mind’s eye at a
particular age- go back gradually-see yourself at age 12, 10, 8, 6, etc. as far
back as you can. Take a look at some
photos of your younger self. As you
float back, remember the things that were special to you- a toy, article of
clothing, artistic creation, book, etc.
Consider why it was special and how you took care of it. Apply the same care and positive energy to all
of your adult needs - physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual - by doing
the following:
·
Be attentive/ Focus your energy
·
Be gentle and use care
·
Protect from harm
·
Mend what needs fixing
·
Replace lost parts with something new & different
·
Share with those you trust
·
Allow for some ‘wear & tear’
One
of the most important elements to be conscious of is our natural child’s
ability to be fully present- letting go of distractions, past regrets, and
future worries. When you are able to
hold an image of that little person, at whatever age, in your mind’s eye, it
may help to engage in a breathing exercise.
The following steps describe, what is called in yoga, the three-part
breath:
1. This deep breathing technique can be done either sitting or
lying flat.
2. Close your eyes and place one palm on the area just below your belly button, and one the palm of the other hand on the center of your chest.
3. Breathe in through your nose with your mouth closed.
4. As you breathe in, extend your stomach, feeling
the expansion with your palm.
5. Pause for half a second, then take another breath through
your nose, feeling your your rib cage and diaphragm expand.
6. Pause your breath and inhale again, this time from your upper chest. You may feel some movement in your shoulders.
7. Exhale as if you are blowing through a straw, nice and slow, and be aware of
the sound of your breath.
May
we all find the time and motivation to honor that little child inside of us and
experience feelings of calm, creativity, and passion for living.
