Mental health....

So,

This is a sort blog post.

How are you doing? what has your body been telling you lately?

Do you feel present in your body today? What has surprised you the most about listening to your body? What advice do you have for others?

For me, I have to tell myself to breathe...if you're around Omaha or you've talked to me lately on the phone and you may or may not be in a crisis, you'll hear me say something around the following:

Breathe. I need you to take a deep breath in, now exhale. Take another deep breath in, exhale.

Do it again, and now exhale the breath and focus on your feet. Do you feel your feet?
Yep, do it again, exhale, and there's your stomach? Is that what it is, what does it feel like?

Inhale, exhale, your chest, are you carrying your stress there? Exhale and release.
Inhale, exhale, there are your shoulders, inhale and exhale, stay here. Inhale and exhale.

Inhale, exhale, and feel your head, move your hands, where are your fingers? Move your toes...inhale and exhale...

And be present.

At this point, you can move into a prayer time, a meditation, a writing time...
your body will tell you how to meet it, this breathing practice is how I'm able to find myself, the mystery of simple breathing centers me into knowing that I am created and beloved by my Creator.