It Takes the Herd, Ltd

As I was doing stalls tonight, I couldn’t help but reflect on how important night time rituals are to our sense of calm. It’s been getting quite warm out during the day, and the snow banks in the pastures are melting. The horses are venturing farther and farther from the barn, and tonight they were still well out in the field when I approached the barn. The sun had set, and I couldn’t see the horses right away. I heard the thumping of hooves and then saw their forms in the twilight as they slowly trotted towards me as only old horses can. I knew in my heart that they likely were coming back to the barn because the sight of me meant they were getting their nightly grain ration. But still, they knew it was time for grain, time for night time tuck in to their stalls, time for fresh water and fresh hay. This is their night time ritual, they look forward to it and it is comforting to them (and to me).

I think back to the power of the night time ritual in the lives of my children. Night snack, wash hands, brush teeth, hop into bed, story time, good night hug and kisses – all part of our family’s night time tuck in ritual. All done in sequence, all calming. Our boys, grown men now, still recall these times, and can still recall the ritual. Our younger son, who had much difficulty in settling at night if there was any tiniest bit of stimuli, needed to have his ‘eyes cuddled’. After the story time, lights would be turned out and I would stand by his bed and gently roll my hand down his forehead, over his eyes, slower each time, until his breathing told me he had drifted off to sleep.

Night time rituals soothe more than children. As a grown adult, I settle best after a busy day with a cup of herbal tea and a warm bath. I have been in stressful situations where those two items were not able to be accessed and I felt my ability to cope was severely impaired. Provide them to me and I can take on the world. The power of ritual, the power of calming and the importance of restoring our batteries.

As I type, the meditation app on my watch flashes a message, “It’s 9 pm. It’s time to unwind.” Indeed it is. I’d best go make some tea.