Be Kind To Yourself

Writing after my nap with an anti-inflammatory smoothie

We are all guilty of it. We wake up, thankful for a new day, we breathe in the morning sunshine, enjoy a yummy breakfast, freshen up with a hot shower and then it happens.

We set up all of our expectations for that day.

The to-do lists, the things that must get done, for ourselves and for others. It's ever growing with new goals, new chores... things we didn't get to yesterday (or last week) get added to it and before you know it, every last minute of the day ahead is already accounted for.

But sometimes, God has a different plan for our day. Or our bodies have a different plan for our day. Sometimes someone we love needs us to fit into the plans of their day.

It's in these moments and on these days I'm learning to be kinder to myself.

Today was one of those days for me. Scheduled to work both my jobs, cook dinner, continue spring cleaning and take a new dance class, I set out ready to take the day by storm. But today was a day my body simply said "no, today we are going to be kind to me. Go slower, take a nap, or two." At work it was hard to be there, my hormone issues are making PMS almost unbearable to the point of physical illness. But I choose to see the good. Part of my work included a massage that helped alleviate some pain and nausea. I thanked God for this.

When I got home, I knew how many hours I needed to be able to write quality stories, but I also knew it was still early, so I made an anti-inflammatory smoothie, put on my ocean waves app and took a 20 min power nap. My body thanked me for doing so, I in turn thanked God again, and I was able to not only write for four solid hours without much pain, I also got to go back and put in an hour of work that I wasn't able to do this morning.

Now, as for dance class. It's something I've been looking forward to for months, so I'm in prayer that my ultimate healer would dance with me through it and as I type this entry I am back in bed with a heat pack and comfy blankets.

And that's ok.

Because sometimes you just have to listen to what you should be doing, instead of what you THINK you should be doing. And be kind to yourself. Don't just take life one day at a time, take it one moment at a time. Because sometimes taking it one day at a time, when a day in the life of a modern woman can include so many variables, can overwhelm you into leaving out God and time for rest, connection and healing.

So maybe the tupperware won't get sorted, or the bathroom grout won't be scrubbed until its glistening. I use to stress myself into an anxious tizzy about these things. Today I count what I WAS able to accomplish. And that's good enough.

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