Cabin Porch

Welcome to Robin's Nest Cabin, your home away from home for the night. As you settle into your seat on the front porch, you sink effortlessly into the old rocking chair beneath you. You feel your shoulders loosen and your jaw untighten as any stress you brought into Robin's Nest begins to melt away and evaporate. You have nowhere to go, nothing to do, no one to report to. Just you and the gentle creaking of the rocking chair beneath you. Let's deepen this state of relaxation with a wind down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So, when you're ready, let's begin. So first, get yourself comfortable. Now, just bringing the attention to the breath. Just noticing where you feel it. In the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to be taking a deep breath, in for four, holding it for four, then breathing out for six. So, are you ready? Let's begin. In for four. Two, three, four. Hold it for four. Two, three, four. Now breathing out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. Great. Now returning the breath to normal. You see someone striding toward you over the low meadow in front of Robin's nest. Rose, the caretaker, has come to greet you, and show you the flowers. Her face is kind and gentle, with slightly pink cheeks, and her voice is warm and welcoming. She seems the sort of person who'd gladly pull up a rocking chair alongside your own, and rock back and forth, forward and backward, in perfect contented silence all afternoon if that's what you wanted. With a slow sweep of her arm, Rose motions for you to turn, and over your shoulder, you see a clawfooted bathtub standing smack dab in the middle of the garden. At first, you didn't notice it. There's so much to see, hear, and smell at Robin's nest, but now that Rose has pointed it out, you find it quite lovely, even if a bit mysterious. As you lean forward in your chair, and peer over the lip, you see that it's filled with dirt and flowers, not the water you had expected. Rose shows you the flowers, irises, poppies, jasmine, and lilies, each of which is lovely in its own way. They're so bright and cheery. It's almost as though they each have unique personalities, and their personalities compliment one another to a tee. Rose leaves you to your peaceful solitude. She's never one to intrude, but if you ever find yourself lonely, Rose will happily join you in the garden for an early breakfast,...