But you don’t WANT to feel sad.

School has started.

Summer was so sweet .

And now it’s gone.

The workload is exploding.

The clouds are rolling in and you feel the panic coming on.

 

 

 

The clouds will turn into thunder, and lightning, and stormy weather before you know it.

And that gets you down.

So come. Embrace your sadness. Don’t push it aside.

Seriously.

But, damn, you HATE that dark feeling, like a tangled rope inside your chest and a lumpy tennis ball in your throat.

What DO you do, when all you really feel like doing is
curling up with Kleenex and Netflix,
with grey sweats on (the kinda not-so-clean ones you meant to wash 10 days ago),
bed-head hair (the real kind, not the $75 blowout  special),
and a bowl (uh, make that a pint) of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy???

 

++++++++++++++++++

 

Go to a quiet room. Seriously.

(Even popping into the bathroom for 5 minutes could do the trick if you live in a noisy house.)

 

Sit comfortably. (No, it doesn’t have to be on the floor with legs impossibly crossed. It could be on the toilet seat–preferably with the lid down.)

Close your eyes.

Take a deep breathe in through your nose.

Open your mouth. Breathe out with a sigh.

 

Now envision your anger, your sadness as a teeny, tiny, helpless baby.

The baby is all alone.

In a crib.

In a room.

 

You hear her:

 

” WAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!”

 

You jump up, dash madly to her room,

go to the side of her crib,

and pick her up lovingly in your arms.

 

You notice a wooden antique rocking chair in the corner of the room. The seat has the cushiest of cushions decorated with purple crushed velvet.

 

You sink down into the cushion on the rocking chair with the crying baby in your arms.

 

You being to rock.

You  whisper into Baby’s ear,

“Honey dearest. I’m here. It’s OK. You’re in my arms now. It’s OK. It’s OK. It’s all going to be OK. ”

 

But Baby keeps crying.

And screaming.

And kicking forcefully at your arms.

 

You let her. You allow her to kick and scream.  You remain peaceful and just observe as Baby has a tantrum.

 

You continue whispering, “ It’s OK, I’m here. Really, it’s OK. I love you, my baby, it’s OK. ”

 

You continue rocking her in your arms.

 

After what seems like eons, her crying subsides.

 

And finally stops.

 

Baby falls asleep out of sheer exhaustion.

 

You hear her steady breathing and feel her heavy little body in your arms.

Standing up, you carry her to her crib and lay her down gingerly.

But she won’t wake up now. You know.

You look down at her peaceful face one last time and say,

“My honey baby, you’re OK now. It’s all OK. Sleep. I love you.”

You go out of the room.

(No need to tip-toe, as Baby is profoundly asleep).

And shut the door behind you.

 

You can still feel the warmth in your chest where Baby was in your arms just  a few moments ago.

**********

Take a deep breath. In through your nose.

Open your mouth.

Let go with a sigh.

 

Open your eyes.

 

And smile!

 

 

Summary:

 

What we are doing here is acknowledging the sadness within.
Yes, it is here. And it is real.
Please try not to push the sadness away. It may overwhelm you, transform itself into an ache, a pain, a lump.
Acknowledge that sadness, that anger within you.

That sadness is the baby in this story. Pick her up, be present with her for a little while, soothe her. And finally, PUT HER AWAY.

Be still with your sadness, but remember, always remember:

She is just a helpless BABY.

She does NOT rule you. She may want to rule you.

But don’t let her.

You may feel the temptation to feed her.

But don’t.

Yes, she’s special.
But she doesn’t need to be fed.

 

YOU are the supreme mommy-in-charge.

 

YOU are the goddess.

 

Do not hand over your power to the mere infant.

She lives within you and when you are happy, she’s fast asleep.

Yet when she wakes up, crying and kicking and making a fuss,  don’t ignore her.  Recognize her. Allow her to be present. Hug her. Soothe her.

Be with her for a moment.

But just a moment.

Just don’t let her rule your world.

 

**********

“The more you hide your feelings, the more they show. The more you deny your feelings, the more they grow. “

                                                                 – unknown

 

 

How are YOU feeling right now?

Happy? Sad? Angry?

Let us know. Share your thoughts  in the box below.

Thank you <3