I love to shop. Recently my husband and I were talking about how some shopping purchases can be truly supportive and others are just unnecessary objects we buy because we are trying to fill a void or distract ourselves from feeling “stuff” that is coming up. We had this fun conversation about items we had brought (runners and a clothes steamer), and expressed a loving appreciation for ourselves when we brought something that was truly supportive.
My husband spoke about his new runners and how every time he wears them he feels them lovingly supporting his feet. They are light to wear, padded in all the right places and a lovely deep blue colour, “It is like they are hugging his feet in all the right places.” For a long time he hadn’t invested in a quality product and just put up with “anything goes”; so this is a lovely testament to the self-nurturing he is allowing and it is beautiful to see him walking with a spring in his step.
My latest truly supportive shopping purchase is a clothes steamer. It is amazing. When I use it, I have to be present with myself in every movement that I make – if I am not I can easily burn myself with the steam. Using a clothes steamer is such a delicate way to press my clothes and it supports me to be super delicate. I love to watch the wrinkles come out as I gently glide the steamer across the beautiful fabric of my clothes. It is like the steamer becomes an extension of my arm and we elegantly do this dance from the top of the clothing to the bottom, the steamer rhythmically bubbling away producing more steam and my lungs rhythmically breathing gently in and out producing a ripple effect of calm through my body. There are no thoughts in these moments, only the feeling of being deeply settled. I am at one with my mind and body and this focus supports me to feel the absolute love that lives in my body. As I steam my clothes I feel like I am bringing this quality of love to every inch of cloth. It is an absolute joy to move in this way and it feels like a celebration of the preciousness living within me.
Using a clothes steamer has also supported me to prepare my clothes the night before, because you can’t rush with the steamer – it requires presence and deep care. So I have been refining my nightly wind down ritual to include time to prepare my clothes for the next day. Then when I get up in the morning I am greeted by my beautifully pressed clothes that honour how precious I am and support me constantly during the day. It feels like the way I moved when I was using the clothes steamer has been transferred to the clothes and is alive in my body, supporting me to stay with this lovely feeling of me. I would never have thought that allowing myself to be present with an inanimate object could be so truly supportive and take my nurturing of self to a deeper level.
I appreciate my recent shopping purchase and the function it performs; I deeply appreciate the way I am supporting myself and allowing myself to be when I am using it. To bring the quality of my presence to an everyday task, like using a clothes steamer, that is traditionally thought of as a chore is so very beautiful and confirming of the preciousness that lives within me. It is amazing to feel how when we are with ourselves for any moment or task it can bring immense joy to the body.
By Bianca Barban, Australia