Hi, beautiful readers! I am back with another Thoughts On Life newsletter. This past month was a bit crazy, so I have a little story to tell. First, I want to thank all of you for being in community with me through this newsletter. It took a while for me to start it, and I am happy that I didn’t allow my thoughts to convince me otherwise. This day, I write to the sound of the rain, something I really love because it feels special, calming, and grounding. I pray that after you read this newsletter, you start or continue to give your vessel the love, gentleness, and acknowledgment it deserves. Lastly, as the majority of you know, my newsletters are very free-flowing, so enjoy the emotions, the thoughts, the questions, and the journaling prompts.
Story Time
During the last week of May, I had a pretty scary health experience. I’ve never been the person—knock on wood—to get sick frequently or get headaches out of nowhere. However, during that week, what started as a simple tension headache from work turned into daily 24-hour headaches with symptoms such as light sensitivity, body aches, hot flashes, a sore throat, neck pain, and much more. I’d never been more scared in my life. It didn’t help that during those days, I was incredibly busy with work projects and had two booked poetry features that I couldn’t cancel. I tried my best to stay calm, rest when I could, and take medicine to ease the pain, but none of it worked, and I was becoming desperate for answers. After not being able to handle the pain anymore, I went to the ER, where I spent an entire day doing blood tests and CT scans to make sure everything was okay. It was miserable, to say the least.
The days following my ER visit came with a deep level of introspection that I was not expecting. I was afraid to move fast, I lost my appetite, and I barely spoke. I was afraid of doing anything that could trigger a headache. All I could do was sleep, sleep, and sleep. I was taking naps every other hour, sometimes for 3 hours straight—my body could not stay up. At the same time, intrusive thoughts were telling me that I was being lazy, that I should be working on a project, or that I needed to go to the gym.
Can you believe that? The amount of pressure we can put on our bodies to perform even after they try to communicate to us that we need to slooowww dooowwwnnnn—smh.
Although I wanted the thoughts to disappear, I chose to welcome them and ask myself the following question: "Why am I having these thoughts?" "What’s the rush?" "How can I give my vessel the grace that it needs?"
Once I started to reflect on these questions, I became more aware of how I could give my vessel the space to heal and exist without pushing it to its limits. The first thing that came to mind was how fast I try to accomplish daily tasks, or even how, while I shower, I am thinking of what I have to do as soon as I step out. I found myself becoming sad at the thought of it, like, "Damn Dhayana, you gotta start being more present with all the beautiful things your body does for you and how it has held you through thick and thin." There were many other thoughts that crossed my mind, but most importantly, I was being intentional with the way I listened to my body’s needs.
What did I do next?
I know you know the answer—I started to slow down even more. As I was completing a task, I would slow my breathing and dismiss intrusive thoughts on how I could be "going faster." I told myself that my showers are sacred, and they are an opportunity to give my body affirmations, let go of heavy energy, and be thankful for all the parts of my body that allow me to function.
Affirmations for the body:
My body is a remarkable vessel that carries me through life's journey, and I appreciate its strength and resilience.
I am grateful for my body and all that it does to support my physical and emotional well-being. I honor and respect my body's unique needs.
I lovingly care for my body by nourishing it with nutritious food, staying active, and engaging in self-care practices that promote its vitality.
I embrace my body as it is, recognizing its beauty and uniqueness. I celebrate the incredible diversity of bodies in the world and value my own body just as it is.
I choose to speak kindly to my body, treating it with love, compassion, and gratitude. I acknowledge that my body deserves respect and care, and I commit to honoring it in every way possible.
My question to you is: Are you actively and intentionally listening to your body? And if you’re not, how can you change that?
This past Saturday, I facilitated one of my favorite workshops, Healing the Home Within, in collaboration with the TOB Community. This workshop focuses on reclaiming safety within our bodies through the use of creative writing, guided meditation, and open discussions.
I had the opportunity to be surrounded by 15 amazing human beings that poured their hearts out and voiced their experiences with creating safety within their bodies, identifying trapped emotions, and how they can continue to show their bodies love and gratitude. It was a magical experience to hold space for these conversations and connect with each other's body experiences, perceptions, and ideas. This is why I do what I do.
Also, when we discussed where trapped emotions can be felt and/or stored in the body, many of the attendees were surprised by the images showing the placement of emotions. Below, you can see a few, and I would love to know your thoughts in the comment section.
Lastly, here are some comments from the workshop community:
Journaling Prompts
1. Reflect on a moment when your body supported you during a challenging time. Write a letter of gratitude to your body, acknowledging its resilience and expressing appreciation for its unwavering support.
2. Imagine your body as a sanctuary, a safe haven where you can retreat and find solace. Describe in vivid detail what this sanctuary looks like, feels like, and sounds like. How does being in this sanctuary make you feel safe and nurtured?
3. Write a short story or poem that personifies your body as a loyal companion and protector. Explore the ways in which your body safeguards your well-being and how you can reciprocate that care and protection.
4. Think about a body part that you often overlook or criticize. Write an empowering narrative from the perspective of that body part, highlighting its unique qualities, functions, and the role it plays in keeping you safe and healthy.
I hope this newsletter resonates with you and that, in some way, it encourages you to be softer with your body and honor it for all that it has held you through and continues to hold you through. Thank you for reading and for being here.
With love and gratitude,
Dhayana Alejandrina
I love the wisdom that is woven throughout your writing.
Thank you so much for that Grace. Truly grateful they spoke to you that way 💕