Baby, it's hot out there...

and dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing

At least it is here, where I live. It seems relentless. It’s been that hot for more than two weeks with no end in sight. Even at night it doesn’t cool down much.

The lake feels like stepping into a warm bathtub.

Quite honestly, activities that require the mind to be sharp are difficult.

It’s a different heat than the one I got used to in the USA. There I had air conditioning. It made working at my desk so much easier.

Here the heat asks me to slow down.

Way down.

And it is something that feels very unsettling in my body.

Like most of us I’m used to power through, to be productive, to override, to keep moving even though my body sends me signals to slow down.

Getting a sore throat for example. It is a sure sign that I’m overwhelmed by something. At times I can’t pinpoint what it is and have to trust that the body asks me to slow down for a day or two. (I learned the hard way that I must honor those signals.)

But it doesn’t come easy.

I am from a productivity driven culture where getting a sore throat is a nuisance and not a reminder that it is time to pause.

Right now, I’m slowing down, as unsettling it is, and ride the wave of the hot days.

I’m being productive in the morning and surrender to the dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing, that begins by noon and ends around 5 pm or later.

I give myself some slack. I give mostly my brain some slack that is trained to override my body’s basic impulses. I put my social conditioning aside that worships efficiency.

I follow a body-first approach that asks me to pause.

Can you cut yourself some slack too?

What basic need could you attend to right now? What would make reading my letter more enjoyable? Even if you have to stop.

Perhaps getting a glass of water, a delicious stretch, changing where you are sitting. Follow the impulse.

What do you notice?

Let me know what you discover!

PS:  There are brilliant people out there who have written brilliant books.

One of those is Kimberly Ann Johnson.

If you are interested in knowing more about how we can tap into the wisdom of the body and regulate our nervous system, I highly recommend her book:

Call Of The Wild – how we heal trauma, awaken our own power, and use it for good

Very often I notice something in my body but don’t have the appropriate language for it. However, I’m a voracious reader and mostly remember where to go look for guidance. I thought I’d share it with you.

 With love and pleasure,

Theres