Rituals That Rewire

I used to think healing came from breakthroughs.
Big, dramatic, life-changing moments.
What I've learned on the trail–healing is a repetition.
A quiet, steady rhythm, a ritual.

Like touching the same bark each time I pass that crooked pine.
Like letting out a deep sigh at the same bend in the creek.
Like loosening when I hear birdsong, not bracing against it.

These aren't just habits, they're messages.
I'm teaching my nervous system...
You're allowed to feel okay.

Not every day takes, some days I forget completely.
Then I spend the whole hike wound tight as a spring.
But enough days are different now–
My body is starting to believe me.

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→ Next: 2.6 - When the Past Stops Leading

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*Peer reflection, not therapy advice. Your healing journey is uniquely yours.*