Self Care or the Lack Thereof

Self care - most of my mom friends would say, "What is that?!"  I certainly did.  I did not "have time" for that..until it caught up with me.

Last fall slowly but surely I could not keep up with life's demands.  Really it began years ago, but it became markedly more apparent then.  Being a Wife, a Mom, a Wildtree Director, a Lactation Consultant, I could not keep up.  One day I felt like I could not even get out of bed.  I had neglected myself for so long that I could no longer serve others: my husband, my son, my family, my Wildtree team/customers, my co-workers, my patients.

I had to make a change.

I had tried to make a change so many times before.  But as I have talked about with my friends Brenda and Jessica, it is hard to make a change when you are still getting by.  When you feel mediocre but can still get the job done, it is difficult to summon the motivation.  At least it was for me.

I finally hit a wall right before Christmas.  I decided to wait until after Christmas, my birthday, and my birthday getaway to get rolling (procrastination or wisdom, I am not sure which).

1. Anti-inflammatory diet (see previous posts).

I saw so many positive effects: decreased fatigue, headaches, brain fog, GI issues, body aches.  I thought this alone would be enough over the long haul.  It certainly helped, but it was just the tip of the iceberg.

A friend boldly reached out to me to tell me she worried what would happen to me physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically.  So I shed quite a few tears, slept for 24 hours, and then got to work.

2. I gave up all my volunteer positions.  I have always wanted to be the room mom, serve on parent council, etc.  Maybe in a different season, but not right now.

3. I set up a morning routine - a short Bible reading and exercise. (I typically do not even give myself enough time to shower, get dressed, and get out the door on time.)

4. I made a counseling appointment.  I cannot count on my fingers and toes how many times I have told others that everyone should see a counselor.  About time I took my own advice.

5. I delegated some tasks to Wes that I had been holding onto.

I am a work in progress.  I know this is just the beginning.  But nonetheless, it is a break through.  And I feel hopeful.  It is the first time I have taken action to back up my belief that you cannot serve those around you without taking care of yourself.  I share because I am not alone.  I have to summon the courage to share each blog post.  But each time others gals reach back, we connect over our shared experiences, and we move forward together.  And for that, I am thankful.