Bookend your day to bolster your life

'Listen to the whispers so you don't have to hear the scream.' A mantra I will forever and always live by after my body's deafening screams'. It wasn't the first time, it will be the last.

I remember the moment so vividly when I walked out the door into the street with the intention of going for a simple walk around the block.

The thing is, there was nothing simple about it. 

‘Just one lap, you can do that’ I told myself.

By the time I got to the footpath it was already too bright, the light felt like it was burning my eyes and triggering fireworks to go off in my head. 

‘Just try’ I whispered.

Slowly and cautiously, I kept walking.

By the time I reached the corner of the block, my vision had become blurry. 

As vertigo took over, I became unsteady. I felt disoriented, as if someone had spun me around at high speed. Now, it was my task to walk straight. Like the game you played as kids or at a tipsy backyard party, that elicited laughter and entertainment.

The thing is, there was no laughing. 

This wasn’t a game. 

This was my body screaming.

Yet again I had met myself at rock bottom. 

I knew better than to brush off the whispers of my body - I have the past to prove it (yet the healthy undefined heart in me isn’t about to try and prove anything to anyone).

I knew I had no choice other than to meet myself where I was at that moment. I had to give even though I felt like I had nothing in me, I knew giving nothing wasn’t an option. 

By this point I found it hard to name what day it was, I was burnt out and bitter as hell and I was stuck in a cycle of abandoning myself - and for what? 

So I made myself a promise.

Promising myself that every day I would do something no matter how small that would send a message to my body that I was listening, that I was showing up with 100% of what I had to give.

The goal at first was to create clear markers of when the day began and when it ended so that I could begin to leave behind what was not serving me and only carry forward what was. 

That promise is how bookending became such an important practice in my life. Because from then on I have bookended my days and it’s been the simplest of ways that offer the deepest feeling of nurturance. 

To begin with, it looked like…

AM; As I woke up, I would lay there with my eyes closed and bring to my attention something I am grateful for or I would set an intention for my day.

PM; As I showered I would take a moment to close my eyes and visualise anything I didn’t want to take with me into the following day wash away. 

(all very Inner Vison cognition of me)

The key was that I kept it simple. I believe that is what makes the practice of bookending so impactful and life changing. 

There’s no need for the fluff or the performance because it’s all for you. 

Over the years this practice has naturally evolved. I now find myself bookending in so many ways… 

The beginning and end of my workday.
The arrival and departure to an event.
The transition of weekday to weekend.

The practice of bookending has cleared the path to my ability to live, lead and create from what I love to call my Super Bloom Sweetspot. And I share in the hopes that it will help you do the same. 

Upon reflection, you may realise bookending is a practice that flows throughout your whole life, or this may be the reminder that it is time to introduce this practice into your life whether for the first time or again. 

Remember, there’s nothing selfish about showing up for yourself there’s no if buts or maybe’s about it - it’s essential. You don’t need to spend money or even a lot of time, you simply need to choose to show up.

You’re so worthy of deep nurturance, the kind that leaves you with a smile across your face when your head hits the pillow because your day has been one that fills you with such deep gratitude for the full bloom kind of life you get to live. 

I would love to leave you with a list of bookending ideas based on the four elements for you to come back to any time you need them. 

Air

• Close your eyes and set an intention for your day, coming back at the end of the day to reflect.

• Journalling (morning pages, gratitude, scripting, AM/PM prompts)

• Sound healing

• Breathwork

• Card pull and reflection

Fire

• Light your favourite incense or candle that signifies the beginning or end of your day

• Smoke cleanse your space and energy field.

• Write anything you wish to release from your day and safely burn it to ashes.

Water

• Immerse yourself in a body of water such as a shower, bath, ocean, or pool.

• Wash your hair, closing your eyes as the water runs through your scalp visualising everything you want to release washing down the drain.

• Drink a big glass of water, close your eyes and bring to mind gratitude for your day.

Earth 

• Go outside and walk your feet along the earth whether in your backyard, local park or the ocean - wherever you can.

• Havening session (@ellelouisemcbride is my trusted go-to for all things Havening.)

• Get morning sun soon after waking (even if overcast)

With love,
Chloe.x