A Change of Rhythm

Sometimes the body speaks to us; it asks for a change. One moment you’re moving really fast, trying to meet up with all your deadlines, trying to clean up every mess, trying to avoid creating any new messes, all at once, and then suddenly, one day, you fall asleep at 4 pm and wake up the next day. It’s a funny thing to imagine, but it’s real.

In those cases, we wake up the next morning, and we’re probably angry, disappointed, and try to quickly get back into that speedy rhythm. But sometimes, friends, we need a change of rhythm. This can go both ways, actually: other times, you’re taking it very slowly, taking your time, the ends of those slippers dragging on the ground, eyebrows constantly hanging low like they could shut any moment. Then suddenly, you get into a flurry at 3 am and arrange your whole room! This actually has me laughing a little, but it’s so real!

The body speaks to us constantly, and like most things, it likes variety, because variety creates a beautiful balance. When we’ve been moving too fast and for too long, the body knocks us out randomly, to say: ‘Hey, take a break, will you?’ It wants, or better said, it needs a change of rhythm. When we’re a bit too slow, for way too long, then we get a random surge of energy at the oddest hour: ‘Let's get moving!’, it says.

When the body gives signals, we’ve got to pay attention and adapt. And no, don’t worry, you’re not weak for slowing down a bit at times, or ‘doing too much’ for speeding up; it’s completely normal to want a change of rhythm. So, hey, take that 10-hour ‘nap’, or clean your whole house. Alternate the flow; it keeps things interesting.

-Alexander from MANI