I just took a long hot whirlpool bath, enhanced with Kneipp rosemary essential oil, to delight the olfactory senses, with a side benefit of helping to clear the nasal passages.<\/p>\n
It is a frigid snowy day today, with temps in the low teens. I walked through the falling snow\u00a0to feed the horses, and was amazed to find that they had abandoned their shelter to stand out in the cold and enjoy the snowfall. I went about my chores in a rather perfunctory manner, which was okay with them, since they were eager for their breakfast, and evidently not in much of a mood to chat.<\/p>\n
By the time I got back into the house, I was feeling quite at one with the cold outdoors, and even a cup of hot coffee seemed not to remedy\u00a0the sensation of gelid blood flowing in my veins.<\/p>\n
Hence the bath. Once my core body temperature felt in harmony\u00a0with the bath water, I was able to turn off the jets and enter a world of sensory deprivation. I came into awareness with a start, realizing that I had been lying still with my eyes closed for an unknown period of time. It could have been five seconds, it could have been an hour. I had no way of knowing.<\/p>\n
Obviously, my subconscious mind had been doing its thing, since I was still breathing and my heart was still beating. But I was completely unaware of the external world.<\/p>\n
I was definitely not asleep — neither was my state of mind one of mindfulness; it was the opposite: mindlessness<\/em>. And it was a blessing. My autistic brain is usually operating in hyperactive mode, and there are times when I wish I could turn it off, but that doesn’t seem to be possible. So this escape into the nether-world of consciousness was a welcome relief. Not for the first time, mind you. I have experienced this feeling countless times before; I’m reminded of the volcanic mud baths in Calistoga.<\/p>\n Still, this feeling is not a common one, so is always a very welcome relief. I drifted in and out of this state several times before leaving the tub. Clearly, I have discovered the “cure” for autism! Just kidding, folks!<\/p>\n After leaving the tub, I shaved, something I no longer do every day. My beard does not grow in with the intense blackness of my youth. I often can’t tell with a glance in the mirror how long it’s been since I last shaved. I have to run my fingers up my neck or cheek in order to “see” that.<\/p>\n So that completed my session of self-care. Self-indulgence if you prefer. I am grateful that we have not lost power during this storm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I just took a long hot whirlpool bath, enhanced with Kneipp rosemary essential oil, to delight the olfactory senses, with a side benefit of helping to clear the nasal passages. It is a frigid snowy day today, with temps in the low teens. I walked through the falling snow\u00a0to feed the horses, and was amazed … <\/p>\n