Self Care

I’m thinking about self care and all that entails. As the universe often does, it sets things in your path which relate to what you need in a given day.

Today, my Noom lessons were on just this subject. I love how this works. Things pop up when you need them in life. One excerpt said “Self-care is a commitment -- a commitment to treating yourself with your body, mind, and spirit with respect and prioritizing your wellbeing.”

For the first time that I can recall I am addressing each aspect of self care. Not just a little bit, but a LOT of bit. 100% on board. I never really realized how intertwined the body, mind and spirit are to the health of your whole being. Joy begets joy, gratefulness breeds gratefulness, anger brings more anger…you get the drift.

Whatever you emulate, grows. Stress is a big one, any negative energy for that matter. It’s so hard on the body. It’s downright damaging in fact. My specialist told me to try to stay out of stressful situations. Then we laughed. But oh it’s true. To do this you must be willing to purposefully seek positive ways of loving your life and that looks different to all of us.

For me, right now it’s being connected however possible with loved ones. Being present in those interactions. Being in nature and really seeing and experiencing all of the critters and flora and fauna, the breeze, the colors. Taking five minutes to close the eyes and breath when things go south.

BELIEVING in myself and the power I have over my surroundings, my attitude, my health, my life.

A work in progress, a sculptor, a student, an observer, a lover.

I’ll leave you with this. I have discovered a love of poetry recently and this woman speaks to me, and it’s a part of my self care to be surrounded by things I love.

Invitation” by Mary Oliver

Oh do you have time

to linger

for just a little while

out of your busy

and very important day

for the goldfinches

that have gathered

in a field of thistles

for a musical battle,

to see who can sing

the highest note,

or the lowest,

or the most expressive of mirth,

or the most tender?

Their strong, blunt beaks

drink the air

as they strive

melodiously

not for your sake

and not for mine

and not for the sake of winning

but for sheer delight and gratitude –

believe us, they say,

it is a serious thing

just to be alive

on this fresh morning

in the broken world.

I beg of you,

do not walk by

without pausing

to attend to this

rather ridiculous performance.

It could mean something.

It could mean everything.

It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:

You must change your life.

Mary Oliver, “Invitation,” A Thousand Mornings (New York: Penguin Books, 2013).

#healprydeliver #cirrhosisofliver #selfcare #maryoliver #health