Looking Back and Moving Forward

By Madeline Seide OTD, OTR/L, RYT, LSVT-BIG

As I embark on new steps in my own personal journey as an occupational therapist, my attention is drawn to the past with both affection and new wisdom. I am moved by the junctions navigated, the adversity overcome, and the challenges faced head-on with the great privilege of having a support system. People say hindsight is 20/20, and they are indeed correct.

I recall stepping into new seasons of life with fear and anxiety, but also with a deep sense of hope that the steps forward would lead to something great, or at the very least, a good lesson. Each “first” reminds me that beginnings are never singular, but part of a lifelong series of experiences that continue to shape us.

The Power of “Firsts”

Our “firsts” exist in our roles, routines, or abilities. For example:

• Our first steps
• The first time we drive a car
• A first kiss
• First day of a new job
• First big life lesson
• Your baby’s first steps
• First day of kindergarten or high school graduation
• The first time you seek help for your pain, and the first time something actually works to treat it

The nostalgia of these moments is enough to tighten the fascia in our abdomen, sending signals to the brain of the sensations we feel emotionally and physically (those butterflies in our stomach). This interoception, what we feel in our bodies, is deeply moderated through the fascia system. Our fascial tissues act as a sensory organ, helping our brain understand not only what happens in our environment, but also what happens within us. Fascia is truly the conduit for how we move and experience the world!

The Role of “Lasts”

Like the endless exciting or scary “firsts” in our lives, there are also the endings, the “lasts.” While endings often carry a negative connotation, they clear the way for new beginnings. A fire may bring devastation, but in the cycle of the forest, it is necessary for growth, regeneration, and opportunity.

The “lasts” also exist in our roles, routines, and abilities. For example:

• The last crawl making way for first steps
• The last time you pick up your child making way for their independence
• The last time behind the wheel without consequence, making way for the first fender bender
• The loss of a loved one making way for a new spiritual connection with their memory
• The first time you seek help for pain from an old injury, leading to the last morning you wake up in unbearable discomfort

Our interoception comes into play here as well: the anxiety or fear of an ending can tighten the fascia in our neck, signaling to the brain that anticipation of the unknown is near (the frog in the throat). Endings, like beginnings, are vital to development and preservation. Fascia mediates these experiences, relaying physical sensation through body awareness and emotional sensation through internal awareness. A healthy fascial system can help each of us accurately feel the sensations in our bodies, allowing our brains the opportunity to process the information arriving from our sensory system. 

Curiosity and Bravery in Life’s Transitions

Both “firsts” and “lasts” require curiosity and bravery. I challenge you to reflect on some of your own big milestones, both beginnings and endings, and ask yourself:

• Can you approach them with playful curiosity, being mindful of the sensations you feel throughout?
• Can you meet them with bravery, actively releasing tension as you feel it building in moments of stress?
• Can you allow them to open the door to something new, in the case of our fascia, moving our body into new and novel positions, or adding forms of fascia care to your routines?

Perhaps this means trying a new activity, embracing a new perspective, or booking an appointment with me, the newest member of the Mayer Fascia Wellness Team, Dr. Maddie Seide. Through every change, transition, transformation, or junction of life, you navigate between your “firsts” and “lasts”. Nurturing the emotional and mental aspects of ourselves throughout this process has the ability to affect our fascial tension, and in return, affect our well-being.

To learn more about how our fascia can be redesigned, check out our blog post on the Forces of Life: Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual. It will teach you about how fascia-informed techniques can support you through the stress of new beginnings or endings. To learn more about how you can support your mind and body throughout the new challenges that greet us daily, consider attending our flagship Fascia Self-Treatment Workshop or booking a one-on-one evaluation to begin building a more resilient fascial system to help you navigate those memorable moments.