Nearly 20 months into this life-altering, culture transforming experience with Covid-19, one thing has become unequivocally clear - our health is our greatest commodity. The decisions we make everyday are either moving us towards or away from health. It is that simple. And with the ongoing evolution of recommendations and restrictions, and limited opportunities to gather with loved ones, our mental and emotional well-being has been repeatedly challenged.
Intentionally cultivating practices to enhance our mental and emotional well-being are just as important as getting adjusted, moving our bodies, getting enough sleep, and eating nutritious foods. And with the season of Trick or Treating upon us, finding ways to Treat-yo-self are all too timely.
A mentor of mine once said that self-care is not simply about bubble baths and dark chocolate, but is about making a continued commitment to walking that extra mile, or pushing it just 5 minutes further on the treadmill, or getting up the 30 minutes earlier to have that much needed bit of quiet personal time. It is the habits that in the moment may be harder to keep, but are so worth the effort in the end.
Loving ourselves truly, sometimes means tougher love. But the kind of love that is warm and expansive, a love that empowers us to do more and calls us forward into our purpose by taking the time to create space in our lives to become who we are meant to be. No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, no matter the weather, it means spending the money or taking the time to give ourselves what we deserve.
A suggestion I often make as a way to begin this process of deeper self-discovery and self love, is with the Miracle Morning. Not only is there a great book, but even a movie to help get you inspired. You can visit https://miraclemorning.com/ to learn more about how you can make some minor tweaks to your morning that can result in a transformational shift in your relationship with yourself and your life. There is no right or wrong way to do this, so this month, in the spirit of Treat-yo-self, I call on you to dig a little deeper and figure out how you might love yourself more.
I leave you with this poem.
Love After Love
by Derek Walcott
The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, who you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
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