Hibernation

Maybe it's not just for bears??!

Part 1

This is my third January spent on the Emerald Isle (just love calling it that...sounds so magical). Either I'm becoming "de-Americanized" or my body is just learning to integrate the flow, cycles and harmony of nature a little better. Back home in the states where ambition is deity and the "go for it-make it happen-just do it" mentality is highly revered, January has traditionally been a month of busy-ness. Americans are back in the gyms, revisiting their one-, five- and ten-year plans, setting new goals and evaluating old ones. The "let's get real" attitude hits around mid-February (as evidenced by the waning of fitness enthusiasm), but for now it's all about busy-ness.

In seemingly direct contrast, however, I'm noticing more of a theme of resting and renewing energy levels on this side of the planet. Friends tell me that January usually is a sort of regrouping month here. My body has certainly been feeling the need for rest, and as a good little American....I'm resisting. I'm discovering that my mind has a completely different agenda than my body is willing to come onboard with. My mind wants high gear and my body wants neutral. Which brings me to this point of discussion...is the body's wisdom undervalued in our culture??

Imagine with me for a moment that we were to completely honor the wisdom and promptings of the body at all times. What would that look like? What kind of effects could that have on our mental, physical and emotional health? Hmmm...

If the body is saying "rest" and I actually listen AND heed (in spite of my very full calendar...yet another western deity), what kind of benefits could I enjoy? Rejuvenation, leading to possible insights and certain increased aliveness, healing on every level, and a renewed sense of self-care.


Part 2

OK, I completely gave in to my body after writing that last paragraph, and it's now several days later. I convinced myself after reviewing the benefits that I would dive in...to the bed, I mean. I curled up with a gorgeous book called "Oneness" by Rasha. I could only read a few paragraphs at a time, then shut my eyes a while, then read a bit more, then napped.... It was LOVELY!!! And, I must report that I experienced all the anticipated benefits.

I'm on a journey of learning to adhere to the body's wisdom to maximize my health on every level. That sounds so eastern spirituality-meets-western ambition, but it's true. I know there are more than a few people on a similar journey.

Like right now, my mind is saying, "Lisa, girl, you need pizza and make it a deep dish." My soul has been engaged in a "massive tidy" (as my Irish girlfriends say), and my body is really doing its best to be supportive. The mind, however, has an agenda of it's own (yes, I'm aware this sounds borderline psychotic). It's trying feebly to process all the data coming up from the soul and is on overload. It's very cleverly devised a reprieve for itself with a comfort food bailout. The mind is mischievously aware that a doughy concoction will effectively clog up all the surfacing emotions...at least for a little while. The mind is all about buying some time, though, isn't it?

Looks like the body wins today, as I'm headed to the bed with a book!