From SoCS host, Linda Hill: “….our Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “cheek.” Use it as a noun or a verb. Enjoy!”
There’s a children’s book called The Kissing Hand. It’s about a little raccoon who is afraid to go to school because he doesn’t want to be away from his mom. His mom kisses the palm of his and and says that whenever he is lonely or nervous, he can put the palm of his hand, the place where she kissed him, on his cheek and remember that his mother loves him.
I must’ve gotten this book for one of my children who was nervous about starting school at least 20 years ago. Children’s picture books are special to me, so I keep my favorites. I believe it’s at the mountain house where I took most of my children’s books since that’s where I’m most likely to spend time with my grand kids.
The Kissing Hand story got me thinking about how powerful the mind can be, especially when we have a physical cue, like kissing a hand and then putting it on the cheek. Is there real energy in that kissed spot? Energy of love that can be transferred to the cheek? Reiki works a little like that, but residual energy?
Anything is possible.
What we do know is that the mind is very powerful in healing and mood. Thoughts are powerful and can influence the body.
I have a bad habit of biting on the inside of my mouth around my inner cheek area. I can go for years without this happening, but it’s surfaced lately, maybe because I’m too busy, way busier than I ever imagined being retired. Too many interests I guess. Or is there more to it? Maybe I’ll come back to that.
I’ve told myself to stop biting the inside of my mouth. I’ve prayed for help with this since it seems to be an addiction of sorts. A nervous habit? The problem happens when I put my tongue in my cheek. Funny, I don’t like the figurative meaning of that expression because I don’t like sarcasm. It’s dishonest. Oh, I’ve used sarcasm occasionally, but not when things are important, serious, or could be misunderstood.
Anyway, when I keep my tongue away from my cheek… wait let me go back. When my tongue feels an imperfection, a bump of some kind, that’s when the biting starts. So, if I just keep my tongue lined up forward, I’m better off. I’ve started breathing with imagery of a vertical line. This relates to something I read about chakras and energy (qi/chi?) moving up the front of the body and down the back of the body. I’m sure there are people who know a lot more about this than me, and I’m resisting the urge to look it up because what I really want to get to is this:
When I inhale imagining energy moving up the front of my body, cresting at the top of my head, and flowing down the back of my body, it feels really good. I don’t know why. Maybe it helps me sit or stand straighter. My head seems to go back a little, or maybe it’s just energy moving, aligning my osteoporotic whatever posture. I’m sitting up straighter just typing this.
Well, I’ve already used up a lot of words…. Isn’t it interesting how the mind and body work together? There’s a lot we can do with this understanding.
Here’s a little video of The Kissing Hand. It’s very sweet. I just watched it again, and the part about energy flowing from Chester’s hand to his heart when his mom kisses him fits with the whole energy thing.
Enjoy the watercolors!
Whose love goes with you wherever you go?
…
The Stream of Consciousness flows every Saturday from the blog of Linda G. Hill. You can find out more here:
https://lindaghill.com/2020/02/14/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-15-2020/
Here are the rules:
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.
2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.
3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.
4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.
6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!
7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.
8. Have fun!
February 15, 2020 at 9:05 am
An enjoyable post. I think you would like the story in this post: https://derrickjknight.com/2012/11/13/nobby-bates/
February 15, 2020 at 4:50 pm
Thanks, Derrick! I looked up the book, Operation Hedgehog. First, I found some military operation, then the book which looked much more fun. 🙂 I enjoyed the post very much.
February 16, 2020 at 3:01 am
Thank you very much, JoAnna.
February 15, 2020 at 9:08 am
That’s a sweet story from the children’s book. It’s definitely an emotional cue, if nothing else.
I have my own habits, JoAnna, like picking at scabs or chewing on hangnails, but biting your own cheek sounds a bit painful. I hope you find a way out of the current habit with whatever method works.
February 15, 2020 at 4:55 pm
Thanks, Mary. My habit is not usually painful, but it’s a cycle, and I’m sure my body has more important things to deal with. I used to bite my nails and hangnails years ago – that could be painful – but I stopped. I believe we will improve. 🙂
February 15, 2020 at 9:40 am
Its interesting just how we form our habits over time JoAnna.. And when we over think things we amplify the problem..
You are right our mind is an Amazing tool… Keep breathing into that space to Be my friend.. And I had not heard of this little book… But I will explore more.. Thank you for the video link off now to take a peek..
Much love your way ❤
February 15, 2020 at 4:57 pm
I know you’ll enjoy it! Much love your way, too! ❤
February 15, 2020 at 12:24 pm
Oh yes, I understand the cheek biting thing. Mine’s less a nervous habit and more an impossible to understand ability to repeatedly chomp down by mistake while eating. Shoot, I’m only 49, of course I haven’t learned how to chew properly yet… 🙄
February 15, 2020 at 9:20 pm
Those chomps happen to me occasionally when I’m engrossed in thought. Ouch! Mindfulness is great when we remember to do it.
February 15, 2020 at 1:29 pm
A beautiful post. Oh, the unexpected places a single word can take us! Love the children’s story, The Kissing Hand. From a young age, books have been my saving grace. Thanks for spreading your “energy of love” ❤
February 15, 2020 at 9:45 pm
Thank you for this loving comment, Rosaliene. Books have been very important in my life, too. I remember loving the library, the smell of books, the quietness…..
February 15, 2020 at 3:04 pm
I really like this post, JoAnna. I think the energy remains. Technically, it has to, but emotional energy is much less understood than Newton’s other laws.
February 15, 2020 at 9:47 pm
Thanks for the affirmation, Dan. It all makes sense on some level. Maybe in the future, we’ll understand much more about emotional energy.