5 Principles of Reiki

Just for today, I will not worry

Just for today, I will not be angry

Just for today, I will do my work honestly

Just for today, I will be kind to all living things

Just for today, I will be grateful for my many blessings

I Am Free

I am starting my second month of living in solitude – alone – 4,562 km away from family and friends on the East Coast of Canada – while I’m here on the West Coast of Canada.

I’ve another three, maybe four weeks ahead of me before my husband returns from his electrical job on the East Coast.

A lot can happen when, if you choose to, and I did – dive into the fears triggered by solitude.

I’m living free of the energy investment into work. I work in education and schools have been closed in Nova Scotia since March because of COVID-19, and now closed for the summer, opening up a lot of space for me.

Living on my own, without my husband here – opens up more space for me.

I don’t know anyone here. Well, I’ve been introduced to a couple of people through my husband who has lived on Vancouver Island for most of his adult life, but I don’t really want to get out there and meet new people. I’m not like that. I meet people on the job and through hobbies. I’m not working and my hobby while I’m here on Vancouver Island is running. A solitary sport where I push my mental and physical limits.

I have lots to keep me busy as our purpose is to ready our house we had rented out for the past 6 years, to be sold this summer. Landscaping, along with plenty of exterior repairs and improvements can fill my days. I’m taking a summer course on Autism. I studying mindfulness – listening to audiobooks on the topic by authors such as Jon Kabat-Zinn, Judson Brewer, and Shawn Achor. I run 5-6 days a week along with a stretching routine afterwards. I end my day with a 10 minute mediation – the Daily Calm by Tamara Levitt on the app Calm.

It is an interesting observation of myself – walking through my day, alone. Learning to lean into and ride the waves of anxiety as they surface, only made possible since my inception of taking CBD a few months ago, relaxing me enough to do so.

Learning to be with loneliness. To ride the waves of sadness are challenging. To observe my body and notice where sadness and anxiety take space within.

Boredom. Not rushing in to fill all the space by “doing”. I can move more slowly during the day, taking the time to transition from one activity to the next. An activity like staining a wood fence is by no means as exciting as kayaking and can sure feel boring, but this time – this slow pace of precision painting becomes a time to practice mindfulness while listening to mindfulness audiobooks; focusing on the words spoken rather than my thoughts.

Leaning into me. I am now in this irregular situation that allows me to turn inward – to become the nurturing adult to my scared little parts. I have the silence to hear their voices and the solitude to go within.

Just for today, I will nurture the scared, worried parts of me who need nothing more than to be heard and loved. To finally be free…

S, 🌻

Feature Image – Vulcania – Francois Miville-Deschenes