sidneyparker921

I love it when I see the signs saying just breathe. It’s my constant reminder these days. Have you ever consciously realized how many times a day you stop breathing? Be it fear, joy, anxiety, amazement…we hold our breath without realizing it. Whenever I was in a situation where negativity is happening, I realized I was holding my breath, which in turn was causing my body to tense. Anxiety, fear and anger were the end result of a constant cycle and it was damaging me in more ways than one. Turn on the news and watch your anxiety levels rise. It’s no wonder so many people are ill. Negativity is surrounding us.

An essential part of my yoga practice is connecting my breathing with the movements and reactions of my body. Inhale the good, exhale the bad…inhale the positive and exhale the negative. I attend guided yoga classes three to four times a week, besides my personal practice at home. For me, it works. I’ve learned that for one hour a day, nothing penetrates the peacefulness I find in my practice. But I learned I needed more.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been using the breathing techniques from my yoga practice all day. When I’m working and the conversation goes strongly political, rather than argue…I concentrate on my breathing. By slowing my breaths and remaining silent, I’m preventing the negativity from invading my body. It’s not perfect and I need a lot of practice but I have to say, it is helping.

What we are living through right now, Covid, the violence, the suspicion and the political upheaval, It’s wrong on every level. I refuse to call it the new normal. Think about it, we’ve lived through so much and made it through. Think of the sixties and all the protesters, the plagues and the pandemics that happened before we even had a name to call it. Vietnam, the Gulf war, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. The Oklahoma bombing, 9/11, the Boston Marathon bombing. Just in my lifetime alone, we’ve crawled through tough times.

What I always remembered is the way people came together and helped each other. Maybe my world was different but I never asked if someone was republican or democratic. I didn’t pay attention to the color of their skin or what church they went to. I didn’t ask bank account info or where they were born. I saw others who needed what I could give. I didn’t think twice, ask a bunch of questions or analyzed the situation to death… I reached out and helped in any way I could. We need to get back to that. We need to bring back the kindness.

People are scared. They’re angry and confused and they are lashing out. But does more violence help? The looting and the vandalism hurts the neighborhoods, the families who shop there and the people who’ve spent their lives building a dream. It’s not hurting Corporate America. It’s not hurting the crooked political government. It’s hurting all of us, the little people trying to survive. We need a different way.

There was a soda commercial when I was a kid with all these people walking hand in hand singing. I think we all need a reminder of the words to that song

I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony)
The New Seekers

I’d like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company
I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace through out the land
(That’s the song I hear)
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company
I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace through out the land

Just think about it. Small acts of kindness go a long way and to be honest, we need all the help we can get

XOXO. Sidney

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