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This week's assignment for my journey involved listening to an audio relaxation guide. It calls for finding a quiet place to follow the mental and physical prompts required of the session. I started off sitting at my desk. I turned on the audio, closed my eyes, and tried to listen and relax. I sat and listened for about 15 seconds and decided this is not going to work. My husband and his friend are tiling our bathroom on the other side of the adjoining wall. There is the sound of men's voices, radio, saws, and tile. Farther out, there is the sound of five little boys between the ages of 8 and 11 yelling over a Wii game. So, I packed up my laptop (that's one of the great things about them) and went into the backyard. I sat on the lower level of the kids' fort. The sun was too bright and too hot. I packed up the laptop again and climbed to the top of the fort. O.K., there is shade and a comfortable breeze. I setup the laptop again and pushed play for my audio guide to relaxation. As the guide spoke, I couldn't help but look around. I hadn't been in the kids fort before. It is actually pretty nice up there. I had a great view of my tiny yard. I noticed the back of the house needs to be pressure washed. I also noticed a little noise on the ground behind me under the fort. I strained to turn to see what it was. A little Carolina Wren was looking back up at me from the shrubs below. Looking around a bit more, I noticed that the neighbors' Confederate Jasmine has taken over their swing and our fence. I wondered if they would be offended if I take a hedge trimmer to it. As I looked, listened, and enjoyed the relative quiet of this spot in my backyard that I had discovered, I also tried to do the breathing and imagination activities that the guy on the audio was leading me through. At the end of the audio, he says "Now open your eyes". Oh, my eyes were supposed to be closed? O.K., this must be evidence of lack of focus, but the way I feel at the end does not mean lack of relaxation. I learned something new about how to relax through the audio guide (I'll try it again later), and I also found a quiet place to retreat to...if the weather is nice.
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ReplyDeleteI too found the person talking for the guided meditation is somewhat distracting. I think some people have the voice to lull people and others do not. I've also always had trouble with guided meditations unless the person was actually physically in front of me talking to me. I think it is fantastic that you have made breathing techniques and relaxation exercises as a part of your lifestyle! My active meditation of choice is hiking but with the weather, lack of daylight, and work hours, there just isn't the time to go hiking. Devastating. So, I bought a gym membership instead and the elliptical has been the closest exercise to hiking as I can get! Thank you for sharing your experience with working with meditation and relaxation, Lee!
ReplyDeleteHi Stacey,
ReplyDeleteI love the picture of the Japanese magnolia, beautiful! I really enjoyed reading about your experience with the relaxation exercise. It made me smile and chuckle a bit, especially when you described being at the top of kids fort and noticed the back of the house needed pressure washed, that is something I would do (lol). Although, the guided exercise may have not relaxed you, at least the journey brought you to a place where you could take a breather, recharge, and enjoy the view. Thanks so much for sharing your experience, it almost felt as if I was right beside you along the way.
Take care and all the best,
~Bridgett
Hi Stacey, When I read your post I couldn't help but laugh. It reminds me of my ADD brain. Some days it takes me forever to get my mind to focus... oh look a butterfly...any way, I did the relaxation at the end of the day and feel asleep immediately after so I don't know about the energizing part.
ReplyDeleteAt least you have found a nice place to retreat to and breathe. If the kids get to you, you can put yourself in time out in your new place.
Be well,
Sarajane