Tag Archive | self care

Self care

Aug29

6DC8B7BD-2D9E-4C85-B877-CCE6898670E8


We are the best advocates for ourselves

At the end of the day we are responsible

To take care of our physical and mental health

This taking care takes different shapes for different people

Some like to pamper themselves with a massage

Some like to shop

Some like to go for a walk in nature

Some like to hang out with a friend

Whatever that self care looks like for you

Please put it on our to-do list

And not at the bottom of the list

Where it goes most of the time

Take that needed activity and move it to the top of the list

You will be glad you did

I still have to remind myself to not make excuses

For foregoing my care routine

I can get swept up in other people’s needs

I can say I’ll do one day without it

But each time I take the time to care for myself

I feel happy I did

Self care is essential not optional

Others will also benefit from a happier you

August 29th, 2022

Lessons learned

Dec4

4ED57821-2ADE-498B-BDE1-0E94EDBCDB58

Some things in life we learn from our parents

Other things we learn through experience 

Here are a few things that I’ve learned 

 

That we can’t avoid pain in life

There is a place for suffering in our lives

That how we respond to painful situations

Is in our own hands

And that’s what will make the difference

 

That it’s OK to make mistakes

Making mistakes is part of life

And not something to be afraid of

Mistakes should be learning opportunities

Not to be dreaded and feared

 

That self care is important 

It’s as important as being selfless

Without self care we can’t care for others

Without self care we become resentful

Without self care we can crash and burn

 

That it’s important to nurture our creativity

That art counts, poetry counts

Art can be a solace in our lives

Creativity a way to unwind

That art brings beauty into our lives

Helps us heal

Helps us shine

 

December 3rd, 2018

My book of poetry is available on Kindle now

Sep3

I’m happy to let you know that my book, Feeling Fortunate but Awful, is now available on Kindle and at a very reasonable price. Besides the subject of depression, the other topics I write about are: the value of authentic friendships, the importance of self-care, the role trials can play in our growth and development and the importance of creativity and spirituality in our lives.

Recharge

Jan30

We charge our phone battery diligently
But sometimes we forget to recharge our own!

I guess the phone batter warns us
50%… 40%… 25%…
Whereas our mental and emotional battery
Does not have a gauge
Often we wait till it’s too late…

In absence of a gauge
And because we often don’t pay attention
To the signs of tiredness and fatigue
It’s best to recharge regularly, every day
And not wait

Sometimes we feel guilty
Paying attention to our own needs
It feels selfish
But if we don’t take care of ourselves and crash
No one will be better off

If we don’t take care of ourselves
We may feel resentful
And do things half-heartedly
Whereas when our batteries are full
What we do will be done whole heartedly

In a world that seems to be spinning
Faster and faster
Slowing down and paying attention to
What gives us energy
Is harder than before

I’ve learned these lessons the hard way
I’ve ran out of battery many times
But sometimes it takes a fall
To make us pay attention to the path we’re on!

Slowing down to go farther…

Jul29

Busy times…
Trying to keep my cool
Even when there are a hundred things
On my to-do list
I won’t forget that somewhere on the list
Close to the top
Is taking care of myself
And doing something that recharges my batteries
Brings me joy
Centres me!

Sometimes we think if we run faster
We will get farther
But in reality
To go farther, we need to slow down
This slowing down
Reflecting sometimes
Relaxing and recuperating sometimes
Prevents accidents
Prevents injuries
And in the long run
We will cover a greater distance
More happily!

July 22nd, 2014

School of Mom…

Oct18

 

IMG_1652

Mothering is one of the best schools in life
Patience, selflessness, being organized
Being flexible, being inventive, and being kind
Only a few things taught in this school of life
Endurance, problem solving, and creativity are other ones

One has to meet many challenges head on

When I thought I could not wake up again
To a crying child
When problems used to confound me
And I had tried all I could try
I learned to persevere
To problem solve
To open my heart

But eventually I felt burnt out
Because I was last on my to-do-list
And the first to be crossed out due to lack of time
Because I didn’t know the importance of caring for myself
Because I confused it with selfishness

Eventually it occured to me
That to be a good caregiver
I needed to care for myself
I needed an avenue for self expression
I needed a creative outlet

And I realized that
There will never be enough time
There are always things to be done
And that I needed to be an non-negotioable item
On my to-do-list
Not one that woud be crossed out

It’s counter-intuitive but it works
Because when I take care of myself
I can be a better mom!

Lida Berghuis
October 15th, 2013