Taking It Down

by Cheng-Ling Chen — December 5, 2007

My cat Miso meows at me while I am doing the dishes. Just for fun, I get down to the floor on my hands and knees. As I am meowing back at her, I realize how tall I must normally seem to her. I look around taking on Miso's perspective. The table, stove, and cabinets are far above, and my husband is practically giant standing there by the sink.

I also notice myself more keenly - my hands and knees against the smooth hardwood floors, my hair tickling my cheeks, and my breath cycling in and out. For a moment, the hubbub of doing the dishes stills, and I get this sensation that time is slowing down.

We run around everyday engaging with a multitude of external forces. We get caught up in details, wrapped in commotion. Sometimes, living can feel like an out of body experience in which we are literally out of touch with ourselves. We are so busy holding ourselves upright, trying to appear strong and together to the outside world, that we forget what being "me" feels like. For some reason, kneeling close to the floor made this obvious to me.

If you are finding it hard to slow down, try getting down on the floor, if only for a few minutes. You can sit down on the floor, get on your hands and knees, practice Child's Pose (with knees and upper body on the floor), do a squat, or just lie down. Check in with your breathing. How is your body feeling today? Remind yourself that you are living in your body at this moment, even if there may be a million things going on around you. Jon Kabat-Zinn writes in Wherever You Go There You Are,

There you dwell...just breathing, just feeling your body. You are not looking to break through to anything. You are not competing with anybody else's body or even aiming to improve your own. You are not judging how your body is doing. You are simply residing in stillness..., tasting the bloom of these moments in your body.

While you are on the floor, away from the action, see if you can't get closer to yourself. See if you can't tune in and gain some clarity.