Retreat. Let the world run without you for a little while. Watch the cars pass by. Notice the people go rushing to and fro. You’ll feel insecure about pausing to look. It feels weird to stop acting when you’ve been an active creature your entire life. Notice how it feels to stop whatever you’re doing, and just observe the world for a moment. You might even begin to notice a rhythm or energy about the day, notice the temperature, the way your body feels in the environment, the air around your body. The way certain people take up space and share energy in your surroundings. And then notice your heartbeat. Is the tempo slow, or fast? Are you breathing? All of these little factors make up our reality even though we may not realize it while we move about our day. This awareness is a form of Yoga, and to retreat and simplify focus is incredibly good for sensory integration sensitivities (SIS) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It is especially essential to find moments to turn down social connection and simply observe in New York City. The image that comes to mind is a school of fish. As if we were all a part of the school of fish looking forward only at the next fish in front of us, we can never become fully aware of the entire school or how you play a part in it. It helps to retreat from the rushing current of the school to see every fish on its own and how they make up the whole. And sometimes it helps to take a break just to rejuvenate from a long “swim.” Whether fish or human, taking time to retreat makes diving in and being a part of the whole that much more complexly beautiful and rewarding.
On the Wing: Lindsay’s Blog
