INHALE, EXHALE

For the one who has been carrying the heaviness of tomorrow inside of today.

Inhale. Exhale.
There are 1,000 milliseconds in a single second, and you just made it through all 1,000 of them.
Inhale again. Exhale again.
When you feel like you're "doing" enough, let taking a moment to exhale be a thing to "do" with these milliseconds, right now. The smallest things you do matter, even before you are able to figure out how. The ground is steady beneath you, and you are free to be rooted and grounded, right here.

Keep paying to the small things that help you release tension, even in the smallest ways. And if "releasing the tension" looks like nothing more than an exhale, that's okay.

No matter where your mind or your heart is right now, within your body, there is still room to exhale. In this exact moment, you are free to exhale, be still, and not do a single thing. Even if it's just for a moment, you are free to simply be.

It may not seem like enough and in a sense, breathing does not change the nature of the unknowns surrounding you. But taking the time to inhale and exhale mindfully is a slow yet meaningful way of coming down from anxiety and remembering that beneath the threshold of change, the ground is still beneath your feet.

The ground may not feel as steady as you want it to be. And there is nothing wrong with addressing the sense of shakiness that you may feel. But even here, may you never take for granted even the smallest glimpse of steadiness. May you continue to have gratitude for the smallest signs of progress.

Again, at the moment, it may not feel like very much. Simultaneously, you are free to breathe deep and trust that there is still more ahead of you beyond what you currently know. When it's hard to believe this, slow down, and remember the ground beneath your feet. It is right here that we are reminded that we cannot escape reality and the weight of gravity. At the same time, we are here. We can't always see how but we are connected. When the ground shakes, it will shake for all of us, and we will all be reminded that we must trust. We must trust beyond what is seen. And we must trust that it matters to take a moment to breathe, even here.

More tomorrow…
Sincerely,
Morgan Harper Nichols