Sometimes I wake up in the morning with my head filled with all the things I have to do that day: for my work life, for the household, for a friend, for my mate - the list goes on. On those days I rarely notice if it's cloudy or sunny, an important thing to notice here in the Northwest where I live. I am not lying in my bed, relishing my life, or the day, or the few minutes I can stay under the comforter, rubbing my feet up and down against the percale sheets, fluffing up my pillow, and breathing in the fresh-smelling air. I am off doing all the tasks I have burdened myself with that morning, even though I've just awakened, and am, in reality, still lying in bed. When this happens, I am learning to take a deep breath, close my eyes, and do Reiki on myself. When I took the Reiki workshop, I thought I had finally accepted that I was living in a very earthy/crunchy, airy/fairy community and partaking of its offerings. I laughed all the way to the first morning's event. When I left at the end of the day, I was laughing for another reason. I felt more relaxed than I had in months, and happy. I actually felt happy. So I do Reiki when I wake up in a crazy place, and it works 99% of the time. Then I can begin my day, doing one task at a time, clear-headed enough to decide upon an order that works for me and doesn't feel overwhelming. I am grateful for the course I took, and grateful that I have decided to use what I learned there on a daily basis. It keeps me much more present, I guess as Rick would say, in the 'now.' When I take the time to wake up in the present, I actually enjoy writing on my blog, and communicating with women who have read my book, "Little Nancy: the Journey Home" or taken the workshop I offer. Life is full, with intention, rather than trivia.
Nancy Alvarez
