Batches of cheerful sunflowers greet me on the trail as I ride by. Portions of the trail are exposed, where golden-orange blooms of rabbit brush adorn the trail edges. Other sections are shaded by thick overgrowth of cottonwoods and skunk bush. Fresh air and occasional wafts of willow clear my senses. The trail is mostly quiet – offering a chance for serenity and contemplation as I pedal. Some days, a regal blue heron floating on the canal offers mystical charm, but not today. Instead, this morning, a light wind and mixing clouds furnish an undeniable solemn mood.
As the trail twists and turns alongside the Redlands Canal the sun streams through the overgrowth providing a dappled backdrop of luminous green. There is a particular turn on the trail that epitomizes this image and when I arrive there today, I notice my psyche greedily soaking in the green. Maybe I’ve been living in the desert too long! But someone else appreciates this illuminated turn on the trail, as well – as a bench has been aptly placed there. Though the trail bench is a lovely place to sit, I’ve taken the opportunity to sit there only a couple of times, as normally I am just commuting by.
Still, I’ve adopted this spot on the River Front as one of my Special Places. A special place is used in guided imagery as a mechanism for relaxation. For example, when I receive some difficult news, or I’ve had a rough encounter, and I find myself in the hot nervous system, I can use my special place to help me go back into the cool nervous system. Of course, the difficult part is recognizing that I have been triggered, that I’m in the hot nervous system to begin with and then finding the wherewithal to do something about it! Creating a special place is the easy part.
When I remember too that a trip to my special place would be a good idea, the steps are easy:
Take a deep breath
Remember my special place – The River Front
Visualize what’s there (sunflowers, the luminous green, the bench, the heron)
Engage my other senses (the smell of willows, the light wind on my skin)
Get in touch with the good vibes I feel while I am there (heart feels soft, head feels light, smile appears on my face)
Even just a few moments in my special place will change my perspective providing the space to choose my response to the stimulus (rough encounter, difficult news) thus avoiding any reaction to the stimulus that I might end up regretting later. Do you have a special place?
