Stillness Before Movement
BPPV: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. That’s the name of the condition behind the dizziness I sometimes experience. It sounds complicated, but it’s actually quite common.
It happens because tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and drift into places they shouldn’t be. When that occurs, they disrupt balance, sending signals that confuse the body and mind. The result is dizziness, imbalance, and even nausea.
Triggers can be simple everyday movements. These include turning my head quickly, rolling over in bed, sitting up too fast, or even looking up and down in rapid succession. For some people, even patterns on a wall or carpet can set it off and stress can make it worse.
When this first happened, I thought I had brain cancer or something. I actually saw a neurologist. That is when I learned that it was BBPV, and the treatment for it is simple. A series of slow, intentional head movements helps guide those traveling crystals back home to where they belong.
That phrase, back home, resonates with me. There’s something deeply symbolic in it. A gentle return to self. A pause to orient myself to time and place. A reminder that before motion comes stillness.
I’ve learned that early mornings are the perfect time for this practice. Before the rush, before the noise, before the lists of tasks clamor for attention, there is stillness.
So what if the day is full? All of it can wait just a few minutes. What the day will bring, it will bring. For now, let this time be reserved for you.
Wake slowly. Breathe deeply. Indulge in quietude.
Give your body, mind, and spirit the grace to ease into the day.
Because sometimes, stillness is the most powerful movement of all.
This reflection is part of my Listening to the Day series of short morning meditations on sounds, stillness, and living fully.
