This week has been interesting.
There have been many things to keep my mind preoccupied. But perhaps that is always the case. Rest assured, I tell myself, the politics will still be there the next time you turn on the TV.
Every year I try to pick out one word to focus on moving forward. The more time that 2016 has been here, the more I'm leaning toward the word "nurture." Taking care of. Being attentive. Giving myself permission to love myself with the little ways that I know and are important to me. Getting more hours of sleep at night. Eating foods that are good for my body. Exercising for health, not just body image. Taking long warm baths. Drink tea with honey and a side of lemon. Watch a movie without thinking of my to-do list. Write a letter. Listen to my favorite song and dance along. Wear a sentimental piece of jewelry. Bring out the fine china for a piece of toast. Blow bubbles in chocolate milk. Read a dearest childhood book. String twinkle lights on a quiet window. Spend an afternoon looking up at the sky. Exploring a new town. Printing pictures out and setting them in random places. Calling up a friend.
In its most simple form, just loving my own experience as a human being.
Not putting myself through this constant state of torture. I make fight or flight a competition sometimes. And I don't know about you, but it's an exhausting state of being.
I would like to treat myself better. I take care of so many others, and in the process deplete my own compassion without replenishing it. The result is the emptiness that I carry with me. Constantly trying to jump start it with insane amounts of caffeine to "rally" throughout the day.
When I was pregnant with both of the kids, I had this way of switching gears. Instead of worrying about all of the things there is to worry about-- I became protective of the body that I had. Not getting angry at it. Not being judgmental or abusive in the slightest of ways. I knew that I had a very important job to do. And so that maternal, nurturing side took over. It was bliss. I listened to my body's cues. If I was overdoing it, I scaled back. If I needed more time, I gave in. I had the healthiest relationship with myself each time. Not just physically-- but mentally and spiritually too. We were in it together.
It would be nice if we could be gentle and caring about ourselves outside of pregnancy. Not that I didn't enjoy the whole growing a child experience...but we should be allowing ourselves this simple yet important role at all phases in adulthood.
So, this is what I'm going to do. Let's figure this out together.
Aimee, I am going to listen to you. To love you. Like no one else can. I am going to nurture you. Care for you. Be gentle and kind. Compassionate and understanding.
I'm going to take care of you.
Because I have permission and do so unapologetically. It's not selfish. It's not narcissistic. It's not even all that self absorbed in the way you probably did back in high school.
This is the real deal.
Because I'd like you to be content and happy in this one special life that you've been given. And you deserve all that it has to offer.
Really, you do.
There have been many things to keep my mind preoccupied. But perhaps that is always the case. Rest assured, I tell myself, the politics will still be there the next time you turn on the TV.
Every year I try to pick out one word to focus on moving forward. The more time that 2016 has been here, the more I'm leaning toward the word "nurture." Taking care of. Being attentive. Giving myself permission to love myself with the little ways that I know and are important to me. Getting more hours of sleep at night. Eating foods that are good for my body. Exercising for health, not just body image. Taking long warm baths. Drink tea with honey and a side of lemon. Watch a movie without thinking of my to-do list. Write a letter. Listen to my favorite song and dance along. Wear a sentimental piece of jewelry. Bring out the fine china for a piece of toast. Blow bubbles in chocolate milk. Read a dearest childhood book. String twinkle lights on a quiet window. Spend an afternoon looking up at the sky. Exploring a new town. Printing pictures out and setting them in random places. Calling up a friend.
In its most simple form, just loving my own experience as a human being.
Not putting myself through this constant state of torture. I make fight or flight a competition sometimes. And I don't know about you, but it's an exhausting state of being.
I would like to treat myself better. I take care of so many others, and in the process deplete my own compassion without replenishing it. The result is the emptiness that I carry with me. Constantly trying to jump start it with insane amounts of caffeine to "rally" throughout the day.
When I was pregnant with both of the kids, I had this way of switching gears. Instead of worrying about all of the things there is to worry about-- I became protective of the body that I had. Not getting angry at it. Not being judgmental or abusive in the slightest of ways. I knew that I had a very important job to do. And so that maternal, nurturing side took over. It was bliss. I listened to my body's cues. If I was overdoing it, I scaled back. If I needed more time, I gave in. I had the healthiest relationship with myself each time. Not just physically-- but mentally and spiritually too. We were in it together.
It would be nice if we could be gentle and caring about ourselves outside of pregnancy. Not that I didn't enjoy the whole growing a child experience...but we should be allowing ourselves this simple yet important role at all phases in adulthood.
So, this is what I'm going to do. Let's figure this out together.
Aimee, I am going to listen to you. To love you. Like no one else can. I am going to nurture you. Care for you. Be gentle and kind. Compassionate and understanding.
I'm going to take care of you.
Because I have permission and do so unapologetically. It's not selfish. It's not narcissistic. It's not even all that self absorbed in the way you probably did back in high school.
This is the real deal.
Because I'd like you to be content and happy in this one special life that you've been given. And you deserve all that it has to offer.
Really, you do.
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