IT’S PUTTING MYSELF FIRST
Hello there and happy Tuesday! I hope this week finds you taking wonderful care of you. I'm drinking Fresh Tracks Breakfast Tea this morning and thinking about putting myself first. Or at least not the absolute last. ;)
But first! A reminder that my FREE COMMUNITY CLASS is happening this Saturday! This one hour Yin Flow class starts with Yin to stretch and wake us up and then move into some flowing hatha for heat and movement. Click HERE to join!
Now back to the email...
Yesterday morning I was running out the door and my partner was in a zoom meeting. He was probably going to be there for hours, so before I took off I quickly made him a tea, a little bowl of trail mix, grabbed a banana and popped them all down in front of him so that he had some sustenance for the morning.
Hours later, I came home tired, a little crabby, and feeling low energy. I still had classes to teach so I needed to pep up. As I sat there asking myself what I needed to feel a bit better, I realized I hadn't really made time to eat. And I definitely hadn't been staying hydrated (classic for me).
I do this all the time, if I'm honest. I'll make sure that the people around me are all set, and then I completely neglect myself. And I really don't like the message it sends.
By not taking care of myself the way I take care of other people, I'm essentially saying that I don't matter. Or at least I don't matter as much as everyone else. And the thing is, when I talk to some of my friends about this (usually the female identifying ones), many of them say that they do the exact same thing. That they struggle to put themselves first or they feel selfish if they do something just for them. And to be clear, the simple act of keeping yourself fed isn't a treat just for you. It's necessary so you don't collapse.
I don't know if some of this ties into my many years of disordered eating and generally not feeling good about myself, but what I do know is that I really want to care for myself the way I care for other people. I want to show myself that I am loved...by me. Whether it's making sure I'm eating and drinking enough, or something more fancy like an afternoon high tea and a massage (yes, I have done these things back to back and I will again!), I want to make sure I'm factoring myself in.
How you treat yourself matters. Not only does it set the tone for how you expect to be treated, but it's also wonderfully freeing to be kind and considerate to yourself. I don't know about you, but I spent far too many years telling myself I wasn't enough and I'm ready to be done with that. I'm also ready to see other women doing the same. Let's be a little more selfish, friends. Everyone else will survive. And more importantly, you are showing yourself that you are important. Because you are.
As always, I'd love to hear about it! Do you find it easy to care for others and not for yourself? How are you planning to be a bit more selfish in your own life? Let me know in the comments below!
As you move through this week, remember to treat yourself and your body with love, respect and kindness.
Much love,
Helen xo
