Muscle Memory
It’s a curious thing, muscle memory. The old saying “…it’s just like riding a bike…” - that’s muscle memory. Your body gets on a bike after decades of not riding one, and your brain pretty much remembers what to do. Remarkable. I pick up a sewing needle after weeks (weeks, I tell you!) away from hand sewing, and yep - it kicks right in!
I have a family member going through some intense physical therapy after a recent accident, and I’m amazed all over again at the body’s ability to rebuild neural pathways that have been traumatized. It’s sort of like going out into the street after the hurricane has screamed through: the power is out, trees and branches are littered everywhere, heavy things like fenceposts and cars are thrown all over like toys. But still, you can see the street under all that debris. The basic infrastructure is still there. So you start cleaning up, slowly and methodically. The brain needs some help sometimes in reintroducing itself to the downed parts. As long as that spark is there, you have something to build on.
The heart has a muscle memory too.
Reconnecting with an old friend is sweet. Reconnecting with your own heart after a season of sorrow or difficulty is sweet, too. But my heart’s muscle memory also includes that tendency to hold onto all of the debris that it may be time to clean out, like shame and guilt and regret, all that ick. Just because that stuff has taken up residence in the dark corners doesn’t mean it gets a lifetime lease to hang out. No squatter’s rights in the heart!
One of my meditations uses a visual of hiking along a beautiful mountain trail in cool, sunny weather, a personal happy place. The path is lovely, but I’ve got a heavy pack on, so with every deep exhale of breath I visualize myself taking something out of that pack that I no longer need, such as that big stone of regret, and just leaving it alongside that path. I carry on with a lighter load and room in my heart for new things.
I’ll leave you here this week with a little reminder to set down some of the stuff you don’t need anymore. Make new memories for your heart to hold onto.
❤️ Bonnie
