Solidarity and sadness,
Difficult to face and sometimes hard to process,
Yet necessary to allow to feel,
So that it can bring you closer to yourself and even closer to others willing to hold an empathetic space.
During this SOS I'll co-regulate with you as you meet your sadness where it is,
Without judgment or toxic positivity.
We'll not analyze the why's,
Not now.
What we will do is pave the way for genuine acknowledgement of what's here now and we'll brave the waves of this feeling that can bring us into deeper connection.
Whether you're sitting or lying down,
Maybe just start by making sure you're situated in a way that promotes as full of breath as possible.
Aware of the breath,
Aware that the breath can change depending on our emotional state.
Aware of the bodily sensations that we've come to call feelings and they're called feelings for a reason.
Noticing where it's felt in the body.
Very often sadness is most felt in the chest or in the throat.
Discomfort in the stomach or even tightness in the lungs.
Notice where you feel this sadness in your body.
Invite your body to breathe into these sad spaces.
Inhaling and exhaling with intention,
With mindful noticing.
Spreading this breath as a blanket over these places within.
A blanket of comfort.
A gentle covering of non-judgment.
A warm quilt of self compassion.
No suggestion here to smile it away.
All of your feelings are welcomed and matter.
You will survive this transient oh-so-human experience.
No need to smile it away.
I noticed this sadness and I am unafraid.
I am supported as I process and accept this emotion by naming it and by not shaming it.
I am allowing it to pass through.
It is passing through.
Breathe.
Is it your own or is it sadness you carry from others?
Either way it's here and it's very clear.
We cradle this sadness because it deserves to be held.
By naming it and by not shaming it.
You are allowing it to pass through.
No suggestion here to think a happier thought or just be happy they say.
You can maybe do that another day.
If you can allow this to pass through you're actually guiding it on its way and there's no need to just be happy.
Today may not be that day and that's more than okay.
By naming it and by not shaming it I am allowing it to pass through.
Sitting with sadness when cultural norms may malign it,
Reject it,
Cover it up.
It's a brave act.
We can sit with this today without numbing it,
Without putting on the paint of a clown in order to appease others or for fear of being down.
As you sit with the sadness recognizing its temporary stay just know that you are paving the way for a mindful reflection on what this means,
What do you need,
And what does this sadness say.
We will name it and not shame it.
And breathe.
You are seen.
You are accepted and this sadness will not last forever.
Thank you for trusting in that.
Thank you for facing what's real and for accepting the support today.
