AJ's Enchanted Photos

As the sun begins its slow descent behind the horizon, a warm glow spills from the large window of the Amethyst Photo Shop. The rain is falling steadily in this part of the city, a soothing patter on the streets. While a few miles west near Cat Marina, the clouds occasionally part, letting streaks of the sun's last light filter through. Inside, the Amethyst Photo Shop is alive with various portraits and treasured mementos, giving the space its unique and endearing charm. As we prepare for our visit, let's take a moment for a brief wind down exercise. Tonight's wind down is an exercise we call noting. It helps soothe the mind. And once you've learned it, you can even use it if you wake up during the night. We're going to be counting our breaths and then just gently noting thoughts and feelings as they arise. We're not trying to change them. We're simply labeling thinking as thinking, feeling as feeling. It may sound incredibly simple, but it can help to create distance between ourselves and the thought, and ourselves and the feeling, so we don't get so involved in it. That in turn creates a more restful state of mind. In other words, the perfect conditions for gentle, restful sleep. So to begin, just take a moment or two to get comfortable. Make sure you're nice and cool. Just starting with some big, deep breaths. Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. And with the next out breath, allow the breath to return to its natural rhythm, in and out through the nose, and feeling the weight of the body pressing you down into your bed. And in your own time, starting to count the breaths as they pass. One with the rise, two with the fall, just up to a count of 10. When you get to 10, you can stop and start again at one. And remember, anytime you get distracted, the moment you realize you're distracted by thought, simply note it, thinking, and return to the breath. Or if a feeling arises, note it as feeling and return to the breath. Noting is very gentle, not harsh at all. Think of it like a feather, just gently touching the surface of a crystal glass. I'm going to give you a few moments just to keep counting the breath and noting any thoughts and feelings that arise. That's great. Nestled in the heart of nighttime, just a stone's throw from Rain Day Antiques and the irresistible aromas of the Moonrise Bakery. AJ's Amethyst Photo Shop is a haven for storytelling and connection. As you approach, the shop's distinctive sign catches your eye. Shaped like a six-sided umbrella, it echoes the delicate umbrella lights commonly used in photography. The sign gleams in shades of purple and gold with a letter A cleverly crafted to resemble an amethyst, its faceted design sparkling as it catches the light as a distant rumble of thunder gently blending...