Toni Braxton’s Unbreak My Heart has been playing over and over in my head. COVID-19 has been raging throughout the United States for over two years. The impact of the pandemic continues even though some communities may claim that the pandemic is over, or compare COVID-19 to the flu, or choose to not get vaccinated, or a flurry of other individualized reasons.
Un-cry these tears I cried so many nights Un-break my heart, oh, ooh
Toni Braxton, Un-break My Heart
My family and I have made choices to refrain from going out in big crowds, being in high density locations, and wearing a mask when around people outside of our household. The ability to make those choices were fueled by our privilege we have of being primarily office workers, choices in child care services that align with our family’s values, and the financial ability to make choices to stay in our comfortable home.
When it comes to COVID-19, I choose to take all precautions on behalf of my son who is too young to receive a vaccine. Choosing to take precautions is for the health of my comunidad. Choosing to take precautions is because I believe in science.
However, these choices were more and more difficult as I saw people out enjoying life, going to parties, seeing movies in the theater, not wearing masks, and choosing to not stay home when sick. I wanted those things too. I wanted to visit my familia in Florida to spend time with them. I wanted to go out to the bar and sit by myself enjoying a fruity cocktail. I wanted to do all the “normal” things I loved to do prior to the pandemic. Those “normal” things were no longer available to me as I weighed the impact of my individual choices to the needs of our comunidad.
Unity was still available to me through Yoga. I did long restorative yoga sequences. Hit up my yoga mat with the following flow:
Supported child’s pose
Cat/Cow
Downward dog
Pigeon
Camel
Supported hero’s pose for final meditation
The sadness of the weight of my decisions on my family was let go through supported child’s pose. The rigidity of my thinking about what was right/wrong was released during my cat/cow. The anger I was carrying in my hips was released during pigeon. The protective slumped shoulder stance was released as I let my heart shine upwards during camel. Finally, my power was renewed through a supported powerful hero’s pose. My meditation included the mantra OM and a gold sheen obsidian palm stone for protection of negative energy.
COVID-19 has taken so much from me, mi familia, and our world. The lessons learned on the Yoga mat remind me that life is a practice. It will never be perfect. The imperfections allow us still to find joy and possibility. Thank you Yoga for always being my amigx reminding me about the connection
I had to the divinity within me. I chose not to not travel to Florida, and the ability to see my family will occur again. The joy in my life will return we all continue con la brega.
Take back that sad word goodbye Bring back the joy to my life Don't leave me here with these tears Come and kiss this pain away
Toni Braxton, Un-Break My Heart