Self Care

Self Care

I had a particularly productive day. Nailed the to-do list. Spent time with my husband and children. Cooked a nice dinner. Then right after bed time I curled up in the fetal position on the couch and tried to breathe. As my chest constricted and my muscles contracted; I got mad at myself for being so weak. I sent a text my very tired husband and asked him to come help me. I took 15 minutes to breathe. Afterwards I finished out last couple hours of my day and went to bed. It has been several days since I took my "me time”. I had been sacrificing it for everything else. This last year was rough and it tested me full circle. I was also struggling with toxic friendships and some health concerns. So I very intentionally made changes and have been prioritizing giving myself the healing that I deserve. As someone who extensively studied mental health, healing and natural medicine for many ( so many) years. I do know exactly what I need to do! The trouble is while I counseled everyone else who was struggling. I would rarely take care of myself. The one hour a day that I give myself to strength train, or go to yoga is my re-charge time. Of course it’s not just that simple. My list of healing/health practices is very elaborate and enough to fill many other blogs. But I have undoubtedly learned (and then proven again to myself last night) that if I don’t take the time to get aligned. My mind will shut my body down until I do.

I just left Fusion yoga. Now for those of you who don’t practice yoga (or maybe even for some of those of you who do) you may not know that there are many different styles. I have done yoga on and off; both in classes and at home since I was 18. I am still trying out different styles depending on what my body needs and what I stage of life I am in. Hatha has become too hot for me while I'm pregnant. The fusion class I take now pushes my body past what I would do in a normal gym workout. It’s much more that stretching. It also forces my mind to be present for one hour. No to do list, no worrying and no multi-tasking. Just staying in the flow and quiet. After class today I feel incredible and I feel healed. My body is sore and my muscle tension has released. My mind is calm. I feel relaxed and energized for the day.

Let me tell you that you CAN take time for yourself. Even if you have an injury, a serious health concern, kids in two different schools, cattle dropping calves in the field, friends waiting on you to help them with a crisis, a huge house to tend to, a half finished home improvement project, a to-do list a mile long, obligations to organizations you are involved in and even during the disciplined season of Lent. If I can do it so can you! If “your people” don’t support you in this then let them start doing more for themselves. The hard lessons usually stick. Self care is not a luxury, it’s not a “oh that must be nice”, it’s not a “but she doesn’t understand”. It’s self preservation. It’s investing in a body and mind you must have for a lifetime. It’s self love. Find the things that help you heal and then do more of it.

Xoxo