Yesterday was a pretty lazy Sunday and I realized as it ended that I forgot to brush the kids’ hair. Not a huge deal (at least we brushed teeth!). But my daughter E. has beautiful, long locks that are both thicker and straighter than anyone else in the family. And prone to tangles. Oh boy can her hair get tangled. Not helped by the fact that she likes to pull out the hair ties I use to tame it and fling it around like a flower child at Woodstock.
It occurred to me that this is an apt metaphor (because you know this isn’t really a blog about hair). We’re at a moment in time when our world is unbelievably sticky. We’re stressed, we’re anxious, we’re inundated with terrifying news, and we can’t even go through the normal, comforting routines of living. Speaking for myself, I can hardly hear myself think at home with three five-year-olds. All day. Every day. For at least another month.
We have gum, so to speak, in our hair.
But as with all tangles, it works best to put in a little time working on them every day. Putting off dealing with the tangles only results in a rat’s nest, and then scissors become the only appropriate tool. So I propose we spend a few minutes every day taking some time to PAUSE. Taking some time to reorganize ourselves. Taking some time to come back from the rabbit holes of worry we’ve been scurrying into. Taking some time, as a student of mine once described it, to de-crumple ourselves.
I suggest two strategies.
1. Practice the Ready List. Now, later, after that. Any transition is a great time.
Stop
See
Breathe
Soft and Tall
2. Take an Alexander Technique Lie-Down. I have a guided audio all ready for you on my Resources page, thanks to a student who requested it months ago.
I hope that you are safe and well. I look forward to reconnecting soon and, in the meantime, may we all spend a little time each day working out our tangles before they become overwhelming.