We writers – and I suspect all creative types – tend to get down on ourselves a lot. A couple (or a dozen) rejections arrive in the email box and it’s “I’m crap! How did I think I could write and sell a novel? Are my thighs getting bigger?”Back in December I blogged about showing ourselves some tenderness. And this blog has a similar theme: self-care. And more precisely, internal self-care.
A good friend gave me a book titled The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present In the Life You’ve Got.
After I read a few pages, I immediately bought a copy for my sister and my brother. The messages were that powerful (dare I say life-changing). Each day’s “meditation” is short, sweet and filled with wisdom we already have but sometimes forget or ignore.
At about the same time, I found a great web site called Tiny Buddha: Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives. The tidbits of inspiration come from people like you and me. The site is divided into sections like happiness and fun; meaning and passion; change and challenges; mindfulness and peace; letting go, etc. The success of the site had led to a book of the same title. And it’s fantastic.
My spiritual journey of self-care has been a long one – filled with curbs and potholes mostly of my own making.
That's why I’m so thankful for the lessons these books impart. Won’t you join me for a little bite? I swear you’ll want to savor it over and over again.
A good friend gave me a book titled The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present In the Life You’ve Got.
After I read a few pages, I immediately bought a copy for my sister and my brother. The messages were that powerful (dare I say life-changing). Each day’s “meditation” is short, sweet and filled with wisdom we already have but sometimes forget or ignore.
At about the same time, I found a great web site called Tiny Buddha: Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives. The tidbits of inspiration come from people like you and me. The site is divided into sections like happiness and fun; meaning and passion; change and challenges; mindfulness and peace; letting go, etc. The success of the site had led to a book of the same title. And it’s fantastic.
My spiritual journey of self-care has been a long one – filled with curbs and potholes mostly of my own making.
That's why I’m so thankful for the lessons these books impart. Won’t you join me for a little bite? I swear you’ll want to savor it over and over again.
What constitutes self-care for YOU? And how do you remember to take care of yourself?
Self care.... that is a tough one.
ReplyDeleteAt this point in my life, it is finding a moment or an hour for myself. After two kids, this has been the thing that I have let slip the farthest from my grip, and the thing that I desperately crave the most so that I can have some semblance of sanity and joy in the beautiful family that I have created.
However, after struggling for years (I am embarrassed to say) I finally found a time once per week just for me, to take care of myself, to do whatever I want to do. The first week, I walked with a great friend :0) and felt amazing. The second week in, I found myself wondering if I should just cancel the babysitter, I mean, I didn't really have anything to do, no plans, the expense of the sitter and all, etc. etc.
Then it hit me, I am blocking my self from getting what I have so desperately wanted and needed and I have been the one that was inhibiting self care (not my husband,or my job, or a lack of funds, or the right friends).
I am glad to say I kept the sitter for week two and plan on doing so again this week, but I realize that taking something for myself is difficult. I am trying to learn to give myself permission to take something for me. This is a practice that I would prefer to master in this life.
Thanks for the inspiration to keep looking within.