I am living through the ups and downs of emotion that seem to be effecting everyone. For the most part I am feeling deeply grateful for the position I’m in. I have some money to live on, my children are with me, my family - for the most part - are healthy, I live in a beautiful place, and have access to the outdoors. I have love and support in my life, and I feel connected to a number of different communities, yet I feel the underlying anxiety of all that is going on and the instability of my situation. Sometimes I go through the day with only a peak at that anxiety, other days it wakes me up at night and continues as an unsettled feeling in my gut.
My antidote, or at least the counter balance to this ongoing undercurrent of anxiety, is pleasure. Right now, more than ever before I am learning to make pleasure one of my top priorities. However, my pleasure looks different these days, partially because my home is packed right now: I have both my children, and a roommate living with me ( I am SO grateful for this!) but that doesn’t give me much privacy for the Tantric Self Pleasure sessions I would enjoy having - plus COVID-19 has dampened my lady boner! So, my pleasure comes from cooking with my family. From watching the birds from my back porch or cuddling with my daughter. Walking in nature (My mantra right now is “When in Doubt, Walk it Out”), or having a bath and using beautiful body creams or oils ( I have SO many right now! Everyone else bought toilet paper - I bought scented oils!)
What I’m learning right now is to shift. I don’t need to hold rigidly to what used to work for me. Life is different these days and what I need to feel healthy and well is going to be different from what it used to be. I now see pleasure in little things that I would take for granted, or would even be to busy to do in a pre-COVID world.
I am using my Buddhist mind training to shift my mind back to gratitude when it wants to sit in anxiety and what ifs. I am cultivating sitting quietly with no expectation that I achieve anything. I have so much to be grateful for. Finding and appreciating simple pleasures is part of that.
What are you doing to create pleasure in your life right now?
Here is a list of simple ways of adding pleasure to your day:
Masturbate! COVID has been a real lady/boner killer but orgasms are a great way of feeling better and boosting your immune system!
Be in nature
Garden ( I’ve always hated gardening but I’m learning how and I’m liking it!)
Talk to a friend - on zoom - across your yard - on the phone
Hold a pillow or buy yourself a big stuffed animal to cuddle
Meditate
Dance
Have a bath, give yourself a massage with scented oils afterwards
Cook your favourite meal
Be of service to someone who is in need (this is a great way to feel good at any time)
Send people cards, love notes, emails saying you love or appreciate them (in my family we call these love bombs)
Watch a musical and sing along at the top of your lungs
Sing
Laugh
Create sacred space in your house
Let me know how you’re adding pleasure into your daily life right now.
I’m sending you all love and a HUGE virtual HUG ️