That's how I feel about it.
I think because it's always been very hard for me. Self care, that is. Before I met my husband, I was eating probably once a day. With extra storage in the oven for my shoes and nothing but takeout in the fridge. Eating was a distraction from my work and something I used to forget to do.
I also rarely took downtime. Or vacations. I was extremely strict with myself in establishing a career and believed the longer I worked in a day, the further I'd get. I spent lavishly at bars and restaurants, worked tirelessly on my hair and makeup but those things certainly weren't self care.
Now, nearly 10 years later, I just recently figured out the depths of caring for myself.
And almost none of it you have to buy. But of course that's the first thing I wanted to do! When you buy a yoga membership or an expensive face mask or a trip to a tropical resort, you feel like
"there, I did something! It's right there and proof that I am now taking control of my self care!"
But... if you're still eyeing your disappointment-of-a-waistline in the mirror during mountain pose, or cramming that $200 revitalizing mask in the back of your cabinet after one use, or drafting a work email in your head while laying out under palm trees then...
...that's not caring for yourself.
I'm sure we've all done something like this before. I mean I did all the above. But the stuff that really makes a difference (and part of the reason I suppose I can call myself a minimalist) is the real self care. The hard stuff.
Congratulating, forgiving, listening, letting go, feeling - that's the real stuff. They're not events or things to own. They're everyday life-changers. I mean a face mask and a trip to a day spa can only take you so far.
As a student of self love/care, I only now realize it's the meat-and-potatos of life! You're feeding yourself and it miraculously makes you full. I think because it attracts other wonderful gifts, like self awareness and self possession. And because it's so filling, I find I have very little room for other "stuff" actually. Even though I have a looooong way to go, after much practice, I enjoy that it has an awesome side effect of streamlining ones life, yielding only what serves and blocking out the mess.
I chose these photos for this particular post because mornings are when I feel most open to self care. It is a time when I feel the softest and yet the most determined to kick butt. Mornings are nature's makeover!
What's your favorite time of day?
