Finding our Rhythm
Another Holiday Season is upon us.
A busy time, yes, but also one when we are deeply aware of the importance of family and tradition, and the cycle of the seasons. As we navigate the holiday parties and gift lists, our sense of connection with the fundamental rhythm of the season can be diminished.
It is interesting to note that in labour, a core coping approach for most women involves some element of rhythm. Rocking, moaning, swaying, breath, each of these offers a sense of ritual, a grounding in something that feels solid in the midst of the unknown.
In this busy holiday season we also long for rhythm, seeking some sense of connection with our foundation of family and tradition. In her book Seven Times the Sun, Shea Darian writes:
“The rhythm of family is a crucial catalyst in restoring the rhythm of the world.”
Perhaps our best response to the whirlwind of the holiday season is to return to our first rhythms, those of our family. A daily family walk, bedtime songs, faith traditions & pizza night. Each of these helps to create a safe space in which we and our children can feel held in rhythm with our needs rather than drawn into the needs of the world around us.
