Grace

To make life easier I sleep on the outside of the bed.  During the day I pour a glass of water and set it by the bed so I don't forget it.  Water at night is such a comfort.  I can remember the last time I slept through the night.  I had extra pillows and it was a king size bed.  Like floating in the dark womb it was.  It was a week ago. The 'new abnormal' is that I wake up at night to catch my breath at least once.  I am learning to slow my exhalation to calm my vagus nerve. If you don't know what that is basically it is part of the parasympathetic nervous system and it can be regulated by the amygdala and nature's fight or flight response.  Humans need to feel safe or otherwise they are in a defense mode.  It seems my anxiety is handled alright during the day but at night for some reason I face certain subconscious issues that dreams and closed eyes just do not seem to quell.  Turns out singing is good for the vagus nerve which can be stimulated in the back of the throat and through yoga and meditation.  Sing, sing a song!  Sing out loud!  Sing out strong!  Sing of good things, not bad.  Sing of happy, not sad.