Welcome back my friend. How are you today? I’d love to hear about your day actually. Good, bad, or neutral. We Americans ask each other that question without expecting a genuine response, but in this space, I ask with intention. How are you?
The comment box is at the end of each post if you’d like to let me know. Thank you in advance for interacting with me.
At the time I’m writing this, I’m tense. Work sucked and I’m exhausted. My shoulders are scrunched, my back tight, and I could probably give myself a tension headache from how deep my frown is.
Over the last few weeks, I’m really realizing how tense I always seem to be. I literally had to buy a mouth guard to stop grinding my teeth in my sleep. How am I tense even in rest? How does that happen? Ha~
I Found the Source of the Ticking
Why? Why am I so tense? Great question…
Are you keeping up with the news these days? I unfortunately have the compulsion to stay informed on politics as a black, queer person with several disabilities.
I have been devastated over and over by the loss and grief I’m witnessing on a regular basis. I’ve watched and learned in horror with many of you as we witness death, destruction and pure evil exist on the mainstage of media.
And I refuse to allow myself to become desensitized. I choose to process my feelings and allow them to fuel me into moving forward and advocating for marginalized voices as much as I can.
Tension and frustration are being stored in our bodies at an alarming rate, and there are many people who simply take that stress out on other humans.
Violence ensues from this kind of perpetual state of dysregulation and fear. Especially without the comfort of community to cradle us and center us when we feel afraid. “Rugged individualism,” ya know?
I believe we were never meant to be this stressed as human beings.
I believe we were meant to exist in nervous system neutrality a vast majority of the time. And my therapist agrees so you know I’m probably right.
My Therapist Also Said This Works So…
I’d like to guide you on a meditation if that’s alright. This meditation includes mindfulness and progressive relaxation.
When triggered, do you notice a certain area of your body will feel tense or hot? If you’re like me, it becomes very apparent in your body that you’re triggered. You can soften that trigger by doing this exercise. At least that’s what my therapist says.
Hello readers. I want you to know that I love you dearly, but I think it’s cringe to type out this guided meditation. So for this reason, I will give your eyes a break this evening. If you’d like to join our meditation, please listen to the audio version.
Now I know this may be disappointing my reader, for that I apologize. However I can promise you that by engaging with the meditation, you’ll have a tool in your belt to help you decompress for free 99, AND the next read will be well worth the wait. š
-Z. Nova 2025
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