Stay Anchored

©2025 Nicole Bratt. DETAIL, Love in the Rain by Bruce Voyce (2016), Vancouver, BC

Dear ones,

The wild weather typical of Pacific Northwest springtime has begun. In the past week, we’ve had rain, thunder and lightning, hail, blustery winds, and glorious sunshine – sometimes all in the same day! I find it a little more challenging to stay grounded with all that atmospheric chaos happening around me. But the flowers are popping up everywhere, like a promise. And the birds sure are busy, aren’t they? Nature is a steadfast a teacher - of impermanence, of continuity, and of adaptation.

This spring feels different to me as I navigate the final 3 months(!!) of the yoga therapy certification program that has dominated my life for the past 3 years (graduation is in late June!)… plus national and world events/news, plus all that regular stuff Life demands we juggle. I’ve been finding it incredibly potent to give myself regular pause times - especially when I feel I “don’t have time”! Even just stopping and collecting my attention for 3 breaths can inform a shift.

One of my teachers once shared that they heard the Dalai Lama speak once upon a time, and someone in the crowd had asked him: how long does he meditate each day? According to this story, the Dalai Lama answered: “Half an hour a day. Unless I’m really busy… then an hour.”

Ha! That struck me that day, and it has stuck with me all these years later… coming to mind especially on the busy days… when it’s so easy (guilty!!) to toss out the very practices that keep us anchored to what is true and what is important.

Stay anchored,
Nicole

©2025 Nicole Bratt. Love in the Rain by Bruce Voyce (2016), Vancouver, BC

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