Breakthroughs in Japan and a Treat for You
Here I am, smiling under these beautiful Gingko trees in Tokyo this past December, feeling not so smiley underneath. I was really trying here to keep it all together and just be fine for the last 4 days of our trip but my brain was way overstimulated and man, I was so freaking annoyed about it.
But what I found out during this (super annoying) moment was absolute gold for my future self.
You see, over many years and much fuss about it, I have surrendered to the fact that I am a neurospicy human with a highly sensitive nervous system… well, mostly surrendered.
Most days at home in Santa Fe, I take daily actions for my nervous system, create a schedule that works for me and take time when my system is overstimulated to slow down and re-regulate. It’s easy to do that at home in the slow Southwest, where everyone is always telling this East Coaster that we’re on “Mañana Time” now.
What I found was much harder, was doing this on a two week trip to Japan where we were traveling to many places, taking in so much new information with cool experiences and navigating a place where we didn’t know the language. * This was so much for my brain, especially ending our trip in the absolute center of Tokyo where everything was busy, busy, busy.
*A little side note here. In no way am I complaining about the fact that we took a two week trip to Japan. That was absolutely incredible. This is about exploring the other side of that reality for my nervous system.
So, let’s get back to this moment under the Gingkos.
We had just had breakfast at this cutie little cafe and walked over to see these beautiful trees (with SO many other people) and that was about all my brain could handle. I remember looking at my fiancé Brady and saying, “I really want to do the other things that we talked about doing today, but I think I have to go back to the Airbnb for at least a few hours or possibly the rest of the day.”
We went back to the Airbnb and I pulled out every tool that I could think of to help me be more active for the rest of the trip.
As a former yoga teacher and energy healer, I have lots of self-regulation tools in my pocket and am committed to using them when needed. I even brought a tuning fork with me to Japan to help regulate, on what I was well aware would be a long, stimulating trip over seas.
Well, guess what? The tools I had weren’t working. I maybe bumped my system in the right direction a touch but I was still feeling so much in my body and brain. After meditating, stretching, breathing, tapping, doing some energy work, and using my tuning fork, I settled for laying down, watching Ted Lasso again and ordering Waygu beef burgers and fries (which were amazing).
I started to surrender to the idea that I was just going to have to navigate this heavy overstimulation while we explored more of Tokyo, when I remembered one more thing that I packed - my watercolor set and sketchbook.
As I started to paint and draw, my nervous system started to shift, unexpectedly. I didn’t even like what was coming onto the paper at that moment but I kept going, feeling this shift beginning.
I painted and drew for the next hour and observed my body and brain come back into alignment, not in totality, but way more than the other methods I was trying. And also, as I kept drawing, I liked what I was drawing more and more.
For the remainder of the trip, I was committed to drawing every day. I really wanted to experience all the other things that we had on our list and not just shut myself into the Airbnb for the last few days. More than that, I wanted to be present while exploring, not just pushing my body to be there when my brain was fried.
I drew when we were having tea before we headed out for the day and at night after we got home, for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. It was simple and unplanned and worth every minute. My brain felt like it was working itself out of this funk through my doodling and painting.
I was able to be present for the remainder of the trip, exploring ancient shrines, visiting Buddhas, eating conveyer belt sushi and walking through busy market streets. More than that, I was able to enjoy the rest of our trip with my beloved partner and not just be in survival mode, running on steam the whole time.
Honestly, the whole experience was magical in the end, because I discovered this for myself: Creativity is an amazing way to regulate my overstimulated, anxious nervous system.
Because of all this, I’m starting something that we can do together every Wednesday, because who doesn’t have anxiety lately?
Welcome to my YouTube channel where we will be exploring creativity to regulate the nervous system together.
Think of this not as an art class, but a creative exploration to help ease anxiety, get into the body and play together.
This class is not for artists and is not about results! It’s for folks like you who are interested in getting your hands moving and getting out of your head.
From regulated nervous systems, I believe we can do anything we can dream of, but we need to start there.
I hope to see you over on Youtube and if you know someone who would benefit from some creative time and less anxiety (and who can’t?) please share with them! The more of us who are regulated, the better for all of us!
Until next Wednesday, stay regulated, stay curious and stay creative.
Sending you so much Big Love,
Mackenzie
New in the Shop
This has been a really long time coming with this project and I’m so incredibly happy with how these turned out. Designed by yours truly, these blankets are 100% cotton, machine washable and dry, and super, super cozy and durable.
I can tell you that our whole family loves them, including our pup, Peaches. We have washed them MANY times over the past few years and they just keep getting cozier.
There are EIGHT different designs online - go get yours and get cozy!