As mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, employees, care providers, creators, magicians (just making sure you’re still with me…but we know it’s true; wink, wink), we give so much of ourselves without thinking twice about it. When Friday roles around we wonder why we’re so exhausted. Or maybe we actually know why we’re exhausted. We might be so knee deep in giving that we find ourselves depleted and with barely enough energy left over to devote to ourselves - once all the myriad of things to do are finally done! In some ways we have little choice about our giving; it’s built into our DNA, it’s our biological nature! We are after all the givers and nurtures of life. Of course our DNA had no idea we’d also have to hold down fulltime jobs, mow the lawns, drive the three kids to soccer, participate in the PTA, do yoga twice a week, grocery shop, see our therapist, and walk the family dog every night. None-the-less we need not apologize for being loving-giving women. That said, we are as important as anyone in our lives and we are meant to be shown respect, love, and kindness, not only from those to whom we give so freely, but also a recognition from ourselves that we are worthy and deserving of our own best loving.

There are lots of wonderful ways we can be loving to ourselves. For some of us it’s a five minute bit of down time at the end of the day, a nice dinner out, a weekend away, a hug to/from our spouse, a good book, a hot bath…you get the point. These are the things I put in the category of self care (a very important part of our lives as women). We all have a few of these special little things can we do to take care of ourselves, lift our spirits, and give us back a little energy…and we are happier for them. Usually, so are our kids, and our mates as well. In all our daily routines to keep life flowing smoothly we can generally integrate a few little bits of happiness in the form of a self care practice or ritual. There are tons of books on the subject of self care especially geared toward women. I know this because I own most of them! I am an avid self help book reader. They are really helpful too. I’ve gotten a ton of ideas and new ways of thinking about things that have helped me take better care of myself over the years. And believe me during in the early years as a single parent in graduate school with a part time job and an over anxious child I needed all the help I could get.

 

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