Earth first

Before the phone. Before the news, the inbox, the small glowing list of what the day already wants from you. Put your hand on something real first.

Touch earth before you touch a screen.

It can be small. Bare feet on the back step. Wet grass. A hand on the bark of the tree by the driveway. The cool edge of a garden bed. Soil under your nails from the tomatoes you meant to pull last week. Thirty seconds is enough.

October makes it easy. The ground is still warm in the afternoon and cold by morning. The light comes in low. The year is turning, and your body can feel it before your calendar can.

The screen will still be there. Let it wait. Let the first thing you reach for today be the world, not a window onto it.

Go outside before you go online. Then go on with your day.