Welcome to the Things To Think About Podcast where we use fables and fairy tales to come to deeper truths about our subconscious world. I’m Stacy Casson and today’s tale is about surrendering. We will explore this topic in a tale I call, It’s So Quiet Here. And now, get comfortable and relax. Take a Deep Breathe in and exhale. A Deep Breath in, and exhale. Deep breath in and exhale. And if you'd like, you can slowly...close...your eyes.
Everyone took a deep breath and sunk under the water. One, two, three, four, five, “wow this water is so clear.” Ten, eleven, twelve, “it’s so peaceful here,” they thought. Twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two they started to feel the fullness of the air they gulped before diving down. The dappled lighting rippling along the lichen-covered pond floor was mesmerizing. “I wish I could breathe underwater,” they thought to themselves. Under the water, the sounds of the crowds at the spring faded away. Thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-three. “It’s so quiet here,” they thought as they floated like a log in the springs. They heard a splash to their right. One of the kids had lost the battle of the hold your breath game. They did not allow it to distract them for long and went back to noticing the feel of the water as it softly lapped at their body.
It was cold in the spring, but they had long since acclimated and found the clean, clear water refreshing. It was wonderful to allow the water to support them. Being weightless and buoyant was very liberating for them. They imagined all their responsibilities floating away. The other swimmers splashing around cause very gentle ripples rocking their body from side to side. Sixty-one, sixty-two, sixty-three they started to feel the pressure against their chest. They did not in fact have gills and longed to take a breath. How long could they stay down here in the peaceful depths? Sixty-seven, sixty-eight, they released their breath very slowly allowing a few bubbles to release the pressure in their lungs. They remained calm and assured their body they were not drowning.
Eighty, eighty-one, eighty-two, everything was so simple here. All you had to do was float along the current. The pressure was building more in their chest. They released a few more bubbles. “Muhhhhh? Muhhhh?” Was someone calling them Ninety, “Mom? Ninety-one” Mommmm? Ninety-two, MOOMMM?!! They released all of the air left and tried to hold the equilibrium. They did not want to inhale the spring water so finally, they lifted their head and took a deep breath. “One minute, forty-five seconds!” they declared triumphantly. Oh my gosh!! Did you see that! Whoa, mom, you’re sooo good. They knew that free divers could hold their breath longer but felt accomplished anyway.
It felt good to breathe. “Let’s go again.” They took another gulp of air and went under again. It was much harder this time. It was still quiet and they were aware of the gentle ripples against their skin, but the need to breathe took over. They shot up and took a deep breath. Only forty-five seconds had passed. The moment had passed. They rolled over and floated on their back, allowing the water to cover their ears and once again drown out the sounds. They closed their eyes and tried to imagine where the sunlight was hitting once again tuning into the subtle movements of the tiny waves against their skin. It was still peaceful here and even though hundreds of people were bathing in the spring, they felt they had the place to themselves. Eventually, the current carried them to the shore. Were they going to leave or float some more?
That ends our story for today. Not being able to breathe can be scary and feel out of control if you let it. Remember, you only need to lift your head up and take a breath. What will you learn if you surrender to the current? And now, you can take a deep breath in and exhale. A deep breath in and exhale. Deep breath in, and exhale. And when you're ready, wiggle your toes, wiggle your fingers and slowly open your eyes. If you are enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and never miss an episode.
