Rituals That Rewire

I used to think healing came from breakthroughs.
Big, dramatic, life-changing moments.
But what I've learned on the trail is this:
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 my shoulders when I hear birdsong,
not bracing against it.

These aren't just habits. They're messages.
I'm teaching my nervous system, day by day:
you're allowed to feel okay.

Not every day takes.
Some days I forget completely
and spend the whole hike wound tight as a spring.
But enough days are different now
that my body is starting to believe me.

→ Previous: 2.4 - What the Nervous System Never Forgot
→ Next: 2.6 - When the Past Stops Leading

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