Poise and Presence

‘I’ve got the sniffles.’  That sounds innocuous.  A cold virus is anything but. Two holiday parties and a long-anticipated lunch date missed. A week-end lost to a Benadryl-induced stupor.

With high expectations for December good cheer, it’s extra disappointing when an illness comes to call instead. And after falling ill, we are then admonished by cultural norms to do battle against the bug. As if it wasn’t enough to find ourselves unwell, now we are to rally for a fight.

Be proactive?  Yes.  Fight?  No. How about practicing a few Alexander Technique principles instead?  Observe Self.  Note unpleasant cold symptoms. Note the mind’s response to them. Pause. (This is the Do-Nothing part.)  Choose what happens next.    Perhaps choose this-

‘Try a Little Tenderness’ Tea:  Boil water.  Pour. Add a tablespoon of honey and a squeeze or two of fresh lemon.  Cup mug in hands.  Inhale to the best of your ability and then sip. Add Rest. Repeat as needed.