Self Care

How does an 8 year old girl already, maybe instinctually, know about self-care when her 35 year old Mom tries desperately every day to put it into practice, succeeding only part of the time?

Could it be that we're all born knowing that we should take care of ourselves? Understanding how important it is? Then, as we grow up, we put other obligations, other things, ahead of our need for self-care?

Why? Is it because we think other things are more important than ourselves? Is it because we feel guilty when we take time for ourselves...guilty when we take the time to sit on the porch, enjoying the cool breeze, sunshine, and a good book? I hope that Abigail never forgets self-care...never forgets that she is as worthy of time and effort as any other person or thing.

My wish for you is that you always take time to take care of yourself with no feelings of guilt or selfishness. YOU are important. YOU are worth it.

Mindfulness

I saw Peter Mayer Sunday morning at an outdoor service for the UU Fellowship of La Crosse. He sang "Awake", and it was a good reminder to practice mindfulness. Below are some lyrics.

You can hear the song at:

http://www.petermayer.net/music/

It is on the album called "Earth Town Square".

"To perceive these wondrous things 

To count the beats of a blackbird’s wings 

To tell a story and dance and sing 

All the splendors 

Of creation 

Are very happy that you came 

Because they needed 

Someone to see them 

And you my child are awake"

~Peter Mayer

From "Women Pray" edited by Monica Furlong

I will not die an unlived life,

I will not go in fear

Of falling or catching fire.

I choose to inhabit my days,

To allow my living to open me,

To make me less afraid,

More accessible,

To loosen my heart

Until it becomes a wing,

A torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance:

To live.

So that which comes to me as seed,

Goes to the next as blossom,

And that which comes to me as blossom,

Goes on as fruit.

~Dawna Markova

Offer What You Want to Experience

Every day you help mold and develop people by what you offer them. If you offer a person patience, love, and forgiveness, they have a greater chance of growing into a patient, loving, and forgiving being. And you will live in gratitude if such a being touches your life or the life of your children. This being will in turn be grateful to you and your children, for he or she will remember that it was your patience, love, and forgiveness that allowed him or her to become who they are today. My friend, offer what you want to experience. Offer patience, love, and forgiveness, and you will manifest them in one way or another in your life.