Show yourself
June 11, 2020
Show yourself that you are capable of so much more than worry by stopping to take time to breathe, stand still, look at yourself closely and know how far you’ve come.
If the last weeks of this pandemic and lockdown have taught us anything at all about our own selves, those that share our homes with us, our wider communities and society and the rest of the living world, it is to be daily and purposefully reminded of how incredible the gift of life and the gift of self really are.
Minutes, hours and days have gently encouraged us to slow everything down to living in the present state, to take refuge in our homes if we are fortunate enough to have them, to savour the flavours, colours, textures and nourishment in our food if we are fortunate enough to be able to do so, to hold closely in our hearts the health, vitality, strength and lives of our own bodies, and the bodies of our family, our friends and our loved ones and to take the most profound yet simple joy from very simple day to day living.
Many of us have our own names for the processes of noticing the tiniest or greatest things and appreciating their inherent value. Some choose to call these processes daily mindfulness practice, some call it gratitude and some call it faith.
Whatever words you choose to define the act of slowing down enough to appreciate the simple things in life are entirely up to you…
Show yourself
Show yourself that you are here today
by hearing your own heart beat
Show yourself that you are here today
by feeling your own breath
Show yourself that you are here today
by holding your own hand
Show yourself that you are here today
by washing your own body
Show yourself that you are here today
by brushing your own hair
Show yourself that you are here today
by slowing your own thoughts
Show yourself that you are here today
by stretching out your own spine
Show yourself that you are here today
by giving yourself a gentle hug
Show yourself that you are here today
by preparing your own meal
Show yourself that you are here today
by lying in the bed that you’ve made
- Maria Cairnie
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