I couldn’t sleep last night. Looking back, I can see the four dystopian punches that knocked me out.
What were they? A powerful combination of images and words.
1. Friday night, we saw the powerful and raw movie 1917 on the big screen.
2. I’m reading The Testaments, Margaret Atwood’s continuation of The Handmaid’s Tale.
3. Small doses of the news here and there, dominated by the possibility of being dragged into war by the Narcissist to the south.
4. I scrolled Twitter and Facebook just before bed to see “what’s up”. Horrific images from Australia. Animals burning. People taking refuge on crowded beaches.
I’m not saying not to see the movie (do!), or read the book (must do!) or take in doses of the news (if you can handle it), or look at the pictures of our burning planet (just not right before bed).
A sleepless night is a small price to pay.
Twenty years ago I would have been overwhelmed, paralyzed, depressed. And stayed that way.
Ten years ago I would have skimmed the surface, in a full-on spiritual bypass, numbing myself with thoughts of “it’s their journey, there’s nothing I can do about it”.
Now, in my restlessness, I understood that I am not powerless. There are ways I can help.
I realign and keep moving forward, renewing my commitment to raise consciousness on our wounded planet.
How do I realign? With my early morning routine:
Wake up before or with the alarm. (No snoozing!)
Pee.
Brush my teeth.
Take my water bottle that I filled the night before and get my phone out of my office.
Resist the temptation to check social media or email. (Apparently I’m stronger at this in the morning. Noted.)
Go downstairs if I have the house to myself, or back to the bedroom if I don’t.
Set up my meditation cushion.
Sit.
Drink as much water as I can tolerate, ideally 2 cups or more.
Start meditation app. (I still use Headspace.)
Meditate for 15 minutes.
Get off the cushion.
Eat breakfast.
Drink a cup of hot tea.
And relish a moment of gratitude that unlike many others, I can sit in my front room and just be still before moving on with my day.
