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dolorosa_12Well, it has been A Week. I made the preemptive decision some time ago that I would refrain from going online from the point when I went to bed on Tuesday night (UK time) until when I felt in the right frame of mind to deal with the news coming out of the US. That meant no social media, no news websites, and, above all, no hysterical, frenzied, real-time speculation about the election result until the outcome was fairly close to certain.
As a result, instead of feeling like a gibbering wreck for the past few days, I have felt completely serene. I've read three books. I've cooked slow, warming food. I've gone running out in the fens, and done yoga every day. And, best of all, I went out walking at dawn in the eerie mist. Everything was still, and cold, and starkly beautiful, with cows looming out of the fog.
And so, my question to you all, for this week's open thread prompt, is as follows: how do you keep yourself calm? What activities help you maintain a sense of equilibrium? What soothes you?
As a result, instead of feeling like a gibbering wreck for the past few days, I have felt completely serene. I've read three books. I've cooked slow, warming food. I've gone running out in the fens, and done yoga every day. And, best of all, I went out walking at dawn in the eerie mist. Everything was still, and cold, and starkly beautiful, with cows looming out of the fog.
And so, my question to you all, for this week's open thread prompt, is as follows: how do you keep yourself calm? What activities help you maintain a sense of equilibrium? What soothes you?
no subject
Date: 2020-11-06 02:44 pm (UTC)Generally speaking, being out in nature is the most soothing thing I know about of. I love anything that lets me move and be connected with my body, and getting away from electronics for a bit really helps (when I manage it).
I also love martial arts as a centering mechanism. I wish I knew more of a style that did solo practice, but my dojo's been doing masked outdoor weapons practice, and that helps immensely for both physical and social reasons.
no subject
Date: 2020-11-09 04:12 pm (UTC)I'm glad your dojo has found a way to make things work in terms of continuing throughout the pandemic — you're right that physical activity is really good at bringing you back to yourself, and shutting out all the external noise and stress.