Friday Favorite Time!!!!
So this series has been in the works for a while and I had it allll planned out. I wrote my rough draft blog post, practiced my video and EVERYTHING!! However, something happened this week and I realized that I needed to highlight a different FAVORITE thing! SELF CARE. What is self care? Self care by definition is a necessary human regulatory function which is under individual control, deliberate and self initiated. Sounds intimidating right? It's not, it's the best thing you could ever do for your mind, body and soul!!
So everything changed on Wednesday. I went to my surgeon's office for a follow-up appointment for my elbow surgery. I was not released back to work like I had hoped and I literally started SOBBING in the doctors office. OH MY GOSH SO EMBARRASSING!! I just really wanted to get back to "normal" life! In any case my doctor reminded me that I need to take care of ME. He asked me what my favorite thing to do was. I replied that going to the beach was probably my favorite thing. His reply was "well then, I guess you're going to the beach tomorrow!" Yesterday was the "last" day of "summer" here and it was still beautiful at the coast.
I realized on Wednesday that during this recovery period I had lost all of my self-care. (not to mention self awareness that I had lost my self-care!) I've been so preoccupied with my titles; being a good wife; and good friend; and caring for my pups, and making sure I don't forget someone's birthday, etc. You get the picture.
I find all too often we are so wrapped up in our "titles". Our true self lies so far beneath the "titles" and we are much more deeply faceted than a title or a salary. We concentrate so much on careers and tiles and sometimes I think we fall into the trap that our titles are what make us- well.. us. This has been a very difficult lesson for me to learn. For so long my whole identity was wrapped up in my "titles". ICU nurse, wife, dog mom, homeowner, sister, daughter, etc. All of those things are wonderful but it does not make you- who are you when you strip all of that away is who YOU are! I can no longer be an ICU nurse. Sure that "title" was amazing but I am the same person as I was when I had that title. It does not make me- ME!
With that said I find that the best self-care is when you truly tap into YOU. Strip away all of your titles and what are you left with? Who were you before you had all of the "titles". LET GO OF YOUR TITLES AND TAKE CARE OF YOU. You cannot take care of anyone until you take care of yourself.
What does self-care look like? This is different for everyone. For me specifically I love to go to the coast and just sit, and be still, and allow my mind to relax. Self care can include things like meditation, taking a bath, talking on the phone with your bestie, prioritizing a friends night, lighting your favorite candle, the little things that make your soul joyful. DO MORE OF THAT!!!
In my research for this blog post I came across a 21-day free meditation challenge through Wanderlust.com. You can find the link here and sign up! Click here for the Wanderlust 21-day-meditation-challenge! I'd love to have you do it with me!! It's 15 mins a day for 3 weeks. We all have 15 mins to prioritize ourselves right?
Also, I found this amazing site with 45 different things you can do to increase self-care practices in your life! These include things like unplug for an hour, do a kind thing for someone else, take 3 deep breaths, or dance. They have so many more ideas here- Click here for Tiny Buddha Self Care Tips.
I hope this helps you get back to YOU! This is truly one of my favorite things as it helps keep me centered, grounded and concentrated on the things that actually matter!
That's all for now! Don't worry, future Friday Favs will be a mix-up of fun things! I just couldn't help but share my lesson and favorite thing of the week!
That's all for now,
p.luiz
So everything changed on Wednesday. I went to my surgeon's office for a follow-up appointment for my elbow surgery. I was not released back to work like I had hoped and I literally started SOBBING in the doctors office. OH MY GOSH SO EMBARRASSING!! I just really wanted to get back to "normal" life! In any case my doctor reminded me that I need to take care of ME. He asked me what my favorite thing to do was. I replied that going to the beach was probably my favorite thing. His reply was "well then, I guess you're going to the beach tomorrow!" Yesterday was the "last" day of "summer" here and it was still beautiful at the coast.
I realized on Wednesday that during this recovery period I had lost all of my self-care. (not to mention self awareness that I had lost my self-care!) I've been so preoccupied with my titles; being a good wife; and good friend; and caring for my pups, and making sure I don't forget someone's birthday, etc. You get the picture.
I find all too often we are so wrapped up in our "titles". Our true self lies so far beneath the "titles" and we are much more deeply faceted than a title or a salary. We concentrate so much on careers and tiles and sometimes I think we fall into the trap that our titles are what make us- well.. us. This has been a very difficult lesson for me to learn. For so long my whole identity was wrapped up in my "titles". ICU nurse, wife, dog mom, homeowner, sister, daughter, etc. All of those things are wonderful but it does not make you- who are you when you strip all of that away is who YOU are! I can no longer be an ICU nurse. Sure that "title" was amazing but I am the same person as I was when I had that title. It does not make me- ME!
With that said I find that the best self-care is when you truly tap into YOU. Strip away all of your titles and what are you left with? Who were you before you had all of the "titles". LET GO OF YOUR TITLES AND TAKE CARE OF YOU. You cannot take care of anyone until you take care of yourself.
What does self-care look like? This is different for everyone. For me specifically I love to go to the coast and just sit, and be still, and allow my mind to relax. Self care can include things like meditation, taking a bath, talking on the phone with your bestie, prioritizing a friends night, lighting your favorite candle, the little things that make your soul joyful. DO MORE OF THAT!!!
In my research for this blog post I came across a 21-day free meditation challenge through Wanderlust.com. You can find the link here and sign up! Click here for the Wanderlust 21-day-meditation-challenge! I'd love to have you do it with me!! It's 15 mins a day for 3 weeks. We all have 15 mins to prioritize ourselves right?
Also, I found this amazing site with 45 different things you can do to increase self-care practices in your life! These include things like unplug for an hour, do a kind thing for someone else, take 3 deep breaths, or dance. They have so many more ideas here- Click here for Tiny Buddha Self Care Tips.
I hope this helps you get back to YOU! This is truly one of my favorite things as it helps keep me centered, grounded and concentrated on the things that actually matter!
That's all for now! Don't worry, future Friday Favs will be a mix-up of fun things! I just couldn't help but share my lesson and favorite thing of the week!
That's all for now,
p.luiz
Comments
Post a Comment