I have a confession to make. I was SO excited about a number of things that I am working on, this blog being one of them, that I was going full steam ahead without taking adequate care of myself. I have felt this fire within and it makes me feel so alive! But I had to push my pause button and force myself to do some things to give my brain and body a rest. I have a well-developed and oft used self-care list that I practice on a (mostly) regular basis.
Thursday late afternoon, I recognized how tired I was. I was sluggish and experiencing brain fog. That evening, I spent just watching tv and was able to get lost in the program. There are times that doing something “mindless” and allowing myself to check out mentally are what I NEED to do.
Friday morning I was able to “meet online” with a dear friend for prayers and devotions. It felt so good to pause to pray and learn. Throughout the course of our time together I was able to just talk and share from the heart. She is able to challenge me while doing so in the loving, encouraging, downright funny way that is just uniquely special about her. I was amazed at how “keyed” up I had been, while being completely unaware of it, until I physically felt my body relax by the end of our time together. I often use the example of feeling like a balloon, air (thoughts, emotions, tensions, etc.) filling that balloon throughout the week; the act of prayers, spending time with God, and a good heart-to-heart that let all that air out. I think this was the MOST important thing I did for myself yesterday.
During my online meet with my friend, my daughter called with a need. Normally I would drop everything and “run”.
Segway alert and “Actual Introduction” here. 🙂 I am home on quarentine until October 12, so I literally can’t run anywhere. lol But I am grateful because my son who tested positive is on the mend and my husband and I remain healthy. Fun fact about me: I met my husband when we were both 17. We “ran away” to elope at age 22. I have a grown daughter who is getting married in 11 months and I am reminded why my husband and I eloped. And I have a 17 son who will graduate high school next May. It’s going to be quite a year!
As I was saying, normally I’d drop everything. But I recognized how much I needed this time with my friend and with God, so I told my daughter that I would get back to her after a bit. This was a REALLY big deal for me to do. I confess, far too often it is my pattern to put everyone before myself. I thought I had made progress in this area, but when I am honest with myself, I can see I clearly need to examine this more. It seems to be the most difficult to do with my immediate family.
But here is my lesson, by taking the time I needed and the result feeling drastically different (insert keyed up, tense, chair rocking me before, and then…. insert me relaxed, smiling again, and not making my friend dizzy by rocking incessantly back and forth.); I felt like I had more to give again. “Self-care is not selfish”. I’m not sure who to give credit to for saying that but it really is true. I was grateful to have put this into practice. It made a huge difference. It ALWAYS does.
I am reminded that positive reinforcement happens organically when I take care of myself. The by-product for me in the past 48 hours? I feel “back to myself“, with body, mind, and spirit feeling rejuvenated.
And you know what? I have one more day to my weekend and I am going to continue with my self-care by “going to church” online, taking a nap, journaling, and learning something new. THAT is me making one more step in the right direction of going after my dreams. Sometimes life is just as simple as that. Self-care isn’t self-care if I don’t do it.
It’s time…
Blessings dear ones,
Christine
What are your favorite self-care tips and tools. What keeps you from practicing self-care. Write a comment below or subscribe by signing up with your email.