A Year of Sundays: The 25th Sunday (6/22/25) – Brain Care, Soul Care

What a week.

The world feels like it is shifting underfoot—news of war, whispers of sleeper cells, random acts of violence, mass deportations. In the blink of an eye, the familiar feels foreign. And through it all, I found myself leaning hard on the tools that keep me centered: affirmations, resilience meditations, and grace.

Still, even with all that support, something felt off. My memory was foggy, my thoughts disjointed. I could feel the stress clenching my mind. That was when I realized: my brain—my brilliant, complex, overworked brain—needed care too.

We so often think of the brain as the control center, but forget that it is also a living organ. Like the heart, the lungs, the skin—it too needs tending. It gets tired. It aches. It demands rest, nourishment, and restoration. My thoughts are not just thoughts. They are signals, echoes, and consequences of what my brain is managing behind the scenes.

This week, I began reading Dr. Daniel Amen’s Change Your Brain Every Day—a practical guide to supporting brain health through simple daily practices. One idea stood out:

"You are not stuck with the brain you have. You can make it better. Starting today." (Amen, 2023, p. 4)

That gave me hope. Through mindfulness, breathwork, nutrition, and even creative practices, I can support my brain in real, measurable ways. It is not about perfection—it is about presence. Awareness. Compassion.

This Sunday, I choose to honor my brain as both a machine and a mystery. It is my co-conspirator in all that I create and overcome. This week, I will treat it with care, patience, and reverence.

Reflection Prompt

What are you doing this week to nourish your brain, not just to think more clearly, but to live more kindly with yourself?

Reference

Amen, D. G. (2023). Change your brain every day: Simple daily practices to strengthen your mind, memory, moods, focus, energy, habits, and relationships. Tyndale Refresh.