Take Your Shoes Off, the Answer Might Be Under Your Feet

Here's what I realized: all the meditation apps in the world couldn't help me until I literally took my shoes off and stood on the earth. That one shift changed everything about how my body responded to stress...

The truth is I didn’t get there intentionally. Rather, it was an intuitive nudge in the midst of the chaos I was submerged in as a mother to three children under five. From the outside looking in, I had it all. A happy marriage, healthy vibrant children, and professional success that I had accomplished before becoming a stay at home mom. But the reality no one prepares you for is the identity shift of it all. The way your needs become background noise as you transition your priorities.

Of course the age-old adages of sleep when they sleep, or ask for help, or don’t forget to make time for yourself became useless words that traveled in one ear and out the other. "Give me a break" is what I wanted to scream, but didn’t. Like, actually, a literal break would have been great. But the thing is, we are conditioned to roles and expectations that are subtle, but loud to the mothers walking that actual path. And while previous generations offer their wisdom, it often comes coded with their own ideologies of a time less connected to our liberated reality.

So there I was over-stimulated, but sipping reheated coffee staring out the back window simply admiring the first blooms of spring. Something washed over me. It was gratitude. The sun shined brightly, illuminating the yellow petals along our back fence and invited me closer. I opened the door and stepped onto our porch. The air was crisp and cool, as it filled my lungs. I felt a sense of ease take hold. The deck felt cold, but refreshing. I walked barefoot towards our lawn, listening to the birds chirp as if they were conversing about their morning. My oldest children, also barefoot, joined me and found their way to the sandbox, and began to play. I smiled at them, knowing they deserved a regulated mom. And in that moment, I took a deep breath with my feet planted firmly in the dirt. I felt a wave of satisfaction course through my soul. I closed my eyes and tilted my face towards the sky. The sun warmed it as I did it again, and again, and again. I kept breathing deeply, and as my stress melted away, I thanked the earth for her support. There I was embodied in my calm. It was so simple. Such a small reset, but it impacted me tremendously.

From that point forward I made it a habit to meet the earth daily. That was the beginning of my breath-work journey and prioritizing my peace. And while my healing has come with many layers, I know it doesn’t have to be perfect or complicated to be effective. I am a walking testimony to it. And, you can be too. So try it. Next time you feel the overwhelm of the chaos around you. Take this as an invitation to slip off your shoes and step into your inner world, the one that was created just for you.