CONNECT WITH YOUR BREATH
The breath is a powerful reminder of your anxiety-reducing connection with others, says KAMILAH MAJIED.
Though we tremble before uncertain futures / may we meet illness, death and adversity with strength / may we dance in the face of our fears.
—Gloria E. Anzaldúa, in this bridge we call home
THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY of the pandemic is a good time to reflect on the wisdom gleaned from this challenging experience. Notice the insights you’ve gained about how to be with yourself when you can’t be with others. We have been learning how to manage the anxious loneliness that often occurs and accrues as we limit our physical contact with people.
We often associate loneliness with sadness, but loneliness also has an anxious quality. The yearning to be social, to see smiles, hold hands, and hug one another can grip us in a field of angst. A breath practice can help us hold, release, and transform that anxiety.
As we grieve our deceased loved ones, our separations from living beloveds, and the absence of festivities that celebrate our connections, we may also experience anticipatory grief. We might worry about ourselves and loved ones getting sick in the future. We may worry that
