Feel like you're living in Crazytown? Just a little bit?
Here's what I'm going to do for you. I'm reactivating my writing practice and dedicating my blogging to Self-Care. Nothing is more important right now.
If you don't take good care of yourself, how can you possibly take care of your space, your people, your work, your civic duties?
You know the air flight rule of placing your oxygen mask on yourself before placing it on anyone else, even your child. This holds true for your activities of daily living. From the simplest act of flossing (I don't care what that recent study purports, flossing is important!) and brushing your teeth, to a daily spiritual practice—whatever connects you to the Divine.
There are so many ways into self-care. Eating well, exercising, experiencing beauty, spending time with Nature, finding ways to exit the ever-cascading stream of thought... if only for split seconds. Practice, as with most things, is key. Practice loving yourself enough to take care of your body, mind and soul.
Actually, what's key is self-acceptance. When we launch into any regime of "self-improvement", it's too easy to fail and fail again and to fall into self-flagellation for not being good enough. So, along with improving our self care, it's as important to be compassionate towards ourselves and to accept ourselves for being human. That's what we are. Flesh and bone and experience and reaction and the whole can of worms. The latter of which is, generally speaking, how we end up. Why not feel as good as we can while we're here?
Here's what I'm going to do for you. I'm reactivating my writing practice and dedicating my blogging to Self-Care. Nothing is more important right now.
If you don't take good care of yourself, how can you possibly take care of your space, your people, your work, your civic duties?
You know the air flight rule of placing your oxygen mask on yourself before placing it on anyone else, even your child. This holds true for your activities of daily living. From the simplest act of flossing (I don't care what that recent study purports, flossing is important!) and brushing your teeth, to a daily spiritual practice—whatever connects you to the Divine.
There are so many ways into self-care. Eating well, exercising, experiencing beauty, spending time with Nature, finding ways to exit the ever-cascading stream of thought... if only for split seconds. Practice, as with most things, is key. Practice loving yourself enough to take care of your body, mind and soul.
Actually, what's key is self-acceptance. When we launch into any regime of "self-improvement", it's too easy to fail and fail again and to fall into self-flagellation for not being good enough. So, along with improving our self care, it's as important to be compassionate towards ourselves and to accept ourselves for being human. That's what we are. Flesh and bone and experience and reaction and the whole can of worms. The latter of which is, generally speaking, how we end up. Why not feel as good as we can while we're here?
"To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don't need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself. " – Thich Nhat Hanh
Why self-care?
If we accept ourselves the way we are at any given moment (even if we have to work through a bit of recovery from some momentary situation) and take good care of ourselves, we'll feel good. And what on earth is more important than feeling good?
When I am feeling not so good, I am a whole lot less fun to be around than when I am feeling well. Other people and the world at large seems aggravating, less filled with light and beauty and humor. When I feel well, life is good and other people are, too.
I started by asking if you feel like you're living in Crazytown. Don't know where that is? (Lucky you.) Let's just say it's the place where the monsters of stress reside. Good self-care helps us skirt that neighborhood. And, boy, if there were ever a time to center ourselves and stay out that bedlam, it's now.
From here on in, I'm focusing on an eclectic array of products, practices, inspirations, gifts of nature and well, we'll see what surprises arise.
Right now? I recommend the essential oil of Bergamot also known as the Oil of Self Acceptance. It's a bright and tangy soft citrus fragrance from a citrus fruit the size of an orange but with way deeper dimples and the color of lime and lemon. I keep Bergamot oil in my purse these days along with my go-to kit of first-responder oils. Bergamot beckons my heart into an easy smile, dispelling the darkness and encouraging me to awaken the shininess of my true self.
Today is Valentine's Day. Whether you are with a loved one or alone, whether you think this is a fako holiday (it actually dates back to pre-Christian times), Valentine's Day symbolizes the expression of love.
Love yourself for being a unique expression of life on earth. If that's a stretch, whatever you might think are your shortcomings, maybe just consider them as challenging puzzles to work out while you're here. The better you are able to accept yourself, the better you'll accept others.
Your light will shine that much more easily.
If we accept ourselves the way we are at any given moment (even if we have to work through a bit of recovery from some momentary situation) and take good care of ourselves, we'll feel good. And what on earth is more important than feeling good?
When I am feeling not so good, I am a whole lot less fun to be around than when I am feeling well. Other people and the world at large seems aggravating, less filled with light and beauty and humor. When I feel well, life is good and other people are, too.
I started by asking if you feel like you're living in Crazytown. Don't know where that is? (Lucky you.) Let's just say it's the place where the monsters of stress reside. Good self-care helps us skirt that neighborhood. And, boy, if there were ever a time to center ourselves and stay out that bedlam, it's now.
From here on in, I'm focusing on an eclectic array of products, practices, inspirations, gifts of nature and well, we'll see what surprises arise.
Right now? I recommend the essential oil of Bergamot also known as the Oil of Self Acceptance. It's a bright and tangy soft citrus fragrance from a citrus fruit the size of an orange but with way deeper dimples and the color of lime and lemon. I keep Bergamot oil in my purse these days along with my go-to kit of first-responder oils. Bergamot beckons my heart into an easy smile, dispelling the darkness and encouraging me to awaken the shininess of my true self.
Today is Valentine's Day. Whether you are with a loved one or alone, whether you think this is a fako holiday (it actually dates back to pre-Christian times), Valentine's Day symbolizes the expression of love.
Love yourself for being a unique expression of life on earth. If that's a stretch, whatever you might think are your shortcomings, maybe just consider them as challenging puzzles to work out while you're here. The better you are able to accept yourself, the better you'll accept others.
Your light will shine that much more easily.
What they sang...
Original lyrics (sans verse)
Button up your overcoat
When the wind is free
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Eat an apple every day
Get to bed by three
Oh, take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Be careful crossing streets, ooh, ooh
Cut out sweets, ooh, ooh
Lay off meat, ooh, ooh
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum
Wear your flannel underwear
When you climb a tree
Oh, take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Button up your overcoat
When the wind is free
Oh, take good care of yourself
You belong to me
When you sass a traffic cop
Use diplomacy
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Beware of frozen funds, ooh, ooh
Stocks and bonds, ooh, ooh
Dockside thugs, ooh, ooh
You'll get a pain and ruin your bankroll
Keep the spoon out of your cup
When you're drinking tea
Oh, take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Don't sit on hornet's tails, ooh, ooh
Or on nails, ooh, ooh
Or third rails, ooh, ooh
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum
Keep away from bootleg hooch
When you're on a spree
Oh, take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Henderson, DeSylva & Brown, 1928
Button up your overcoat
When the wind is free
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Eat an apple every day
Get to bed by three
Oh, take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Be careful crossing streets, ooh, ooh
Cut out sweets, ooh, ooh
Lay off meat, ooh, ooh
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum
Wear your flannel underwear
When you climb a tree
Oh, take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Button up your overcoat
When the wind is free
Oh, take good care of yourself
You belong to me
When you sass a traffic cop
Use diplomacy
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Beware of frozen funds, ooh, ooh
Stocks and bonds, ooh, ooh
Dockside thugs, ooh, ooh
You'll get a pain and ruin your bankroll
Keep the spoon out of your cup
When you're drinking tea
Oh, take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Don't sit on hornet's tails, ooh, ooh
Or on nails, ooh, ooh
Or third rails, ooh, ooh
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum
Keep away from bootleg hooch
When you're on a spree
Oh, take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Henderson, DeSylva & Brown, 1928
