Rhythm and Balance

I am immersed in a book by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey. It is written in an unusual way - as a conversation about trauma. His words - her words - his words - her words. Sometimes a question and an answer, and sometimes a memory and a response. Dr. Perry has been researching the effects of childhood trauma on the brain for many decades and what he has discovered it interesting. 

Early in the book he shares the concepts of rhythm and balance, and how essential they are to a healthy body and mind.  Exposure to rhythm begins in the womb. A baby hears the mothers heartbeat and is nurtured by the blood rushing rhythmically through her arteries. Once born, the cycle of sleep, eat, poop/pee are followed by play times, being read to times, trips, classes.  Even as adults we eat, sleep, read, play, socialize, exercise, and work. Each has a set place in our life. When our personal rhythm gets disrupted, we feel off. 

An example of this is my struggle with fatigue. There are several reasons for it that are within my control - most with an element of rhythm to them. Probably the easiest to fix is my lack of exercise. I haven't been consistently getting regular exercise each day.  And yet I drag my feet. Why?  Not sure.  Another is sleep. My sleep is chaotic and has been for years. From a young age I tended to be a night owl. I still am. I think it started as a pre-teen where I liked the feel of being awake at night when others were asleep. The house was so peaceful. The plus side was, once I fell asleep I slept soundly, I slept like the dead. 

That changed after I birthed three babies. The first woke up at 5 a.m. until he was mid-elementary. He, of course, tended to wake the others up too. Years of staying up late for that silent time - which kept getting later and later as the kids grew older - then waking early as was the new habit after years of caring for little ones blew up any sleep rhythm I ever had.  I know there are answers to this too, but it will take a focus which I haven't found yet. 

Our lives don't have to have the exact same rhythm every day. However our day's flow should feel right to us. It should be soothing and, when possible, effortless. Rhythm also walks hand in hand with balance. What is said about one is true for the other.  Balance in our lives comes from having our needs addressed - home, food, enough money, mental stimulation, exercise, play time, self-care, friends and family time.  They are all a necessary part of a well rounded life. We can't include every need every day, but it is important over the course of the week to find a time for each.  Skip one and your life falls out of balance - your rhythm, your flow, is disrupted. 

I personally find staying in rhythm and balance way easier than trying to get them back after they are lost. So why do I let mine get discordant. Not sure.  All I know is there is always a way to get myself moving towards being in sync again if I put in the effort.  It just takes making baby steps, one after another, in the right direction. In fact, this feels like just the right moment for a nature break. Think I'll  head out the door for a long walk along the river in silence.  Baby step one ready to go.