My feet sank into the sand on the shore of Lake Michigan. Slowly, I noticed how that felt, and I smiled, enjoying it, additionally taking pleasure in the warmth of the sun on my back and the breeze moving toward my face. “Check in,” I said to myself.
That’s what I’ve been saying to myself lately. There are so many ways that we “check out.” We get stuck in our heads, ruminating over thoughts. We distract ourselves, picking up our phones a zillion times per day. We think about work when we’re not working. We project fears about future stressors that aren’t even happening right now (and likely, won’t happen at all). We easily check out.
It can feel so good to check in.
It feels freeing and enlivening to connect with our bodies, our surroundings, nature, the sounds of birds or children laughing, and the presence of our relationships.
Check in — yes.
–Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 