Growing up, I thought there would be more quicksand in my future. It’s not my fault. I grew up in the ‘80s and watched a lot of classic TV and movies. Quicksand was everywhere! (Or lightning sand if you watched The Princess Bride.)
But in my adult life? Not a bit of quicksand to be found.
I’m not disappointed… Who wants to be trapped in quicksand? Though now that the quicksand trope is over, the lack of quicksand feels vaguely unsettling. As if we were lied to as children, promised a future that was never going to happen. (Flying cars? Hover boards? Equality?)
Only recently, I’ve come to realize that the quicksand is here. It’s everywhere. It’s just not as literal as we expected.
Pick Your Quicksand
What is this figurative quicksand? Take your pick. With the constant barrage of headlines in these unprecedented times plus the shiny promise of video distractions, there’s plenty to suck each of us in.
It’s the political headlines that get me. I start on solid ground, thinking it’s reasonable to be informed and keep up with current events. Until I take a step into outrage over the what now? and another into terror for the what’s next? And I’m suddenly stuck in the doomscroll, desperate for a branch to pull myself out.
Maybe you’re better at sidestepping the politics, but quicksand comes in many varieties. Do you need to know what happened in a natural disaster? Are you drawn to the latest spat among bickering celebrities? When the internet is at our fingertips, there’s a quicksand for everyone.
What did the ‘80s teach us about surviving quicksand?
Stay calm; panicking will only make it worse
Slow down and make deliberate movements
Hold on to whatever might keep you above ground
Call for help before you sink too deep
That’s pretty good advice for today’s trickier quicksand, too.
Mini Yoga Break
Mindfulness is an integral part of yoga. It can also be one of the harder parts of the practice. It’s so easy to let our minds wander while our bodies go through the motions. To help with that, you can try a walking meditation.
In a walking meditation, your mind is actively present. You walk at a natural pace, focused on the feel of your body moving. Notice how it feels to lift your feet and place them on the ground. Notice anything else about your body, like the swing of your arms or the rhythm of your breath. Shift your focus to notice your surroundings, the sights, sounds, and smells around you. When your mind wanders to other things—thinking about the past or present—draw it back to the present moment. Enjoy each step, letting everything else go.
Writing and/or Yoga Updates
We’re switching up the schedule at Sthira Sukham Yoga. On Tuesday nights, you can now join me for Hatha 2, a practice that offers less guidance in familiar asanas and more opportunities to explore challenging postures.
On August 9, 3-7 pm, I’ll be at Blend Coffee Bar for another Blend Book Fair. With over 45 authors, you’re sure to find something for yourself or for a friend. Books make great gifts! And you’ll have a chance to meet me. I hope to see you there!
Throwback Spotlight
If you haven’t discovered my podcast yet, Freely Written features very short stories that are written from a prompt with no planning and very little editing. Episodes are only about 10 minutes long, making it easy to fit in a quick story break.
For today’s throwback, let’s go way back to one of my earlier stories. One about a frog who goes on a quest to find a magical blue lotus.
You can listen to the story here: The Frog and the Lotus
If you like this story, please check out more stories and share Freely Written with your friends! It’s a fun little side project that I hope you’ll enjoy.