Are You Taking Care of YOU? I haven't been...

Are You Taking Care of YOU? I haven’t been…

It hit me like a (pardon the cliche’) ton of bricks.  I have been getting ticked off and aggravated by the smallest things.  It’s been going on for a month or so, and I just have hardly taken a breath to figure out why.  This morning, in the middle of a meeting with people who have helped me so much over the past year to put life into perspective, I had a revelation, and I saw entirely clearly why I have been so bothered.  Better than that, I knew immediately how to fix it.

This is personal stuff, and I wonder if it is too much ‘me’ to put out there for any ‘you’ to know.  I’ve blogged recently about my dark moments, though, so I think this will be a perfect accompaniment, and more importantly I REALLY think it will help several people with the same issue in their own lives.

If you are a man, woman, young adult, child, husband, wife, CEO, assembly line worker, or anything close to any of those, here is the question for you:  Do you take care of yourself?  My first answer (as I spoke to myself within my head) was YES, I am eating better than I have ever eaten, learning more about wellness than I ever thought I could.  OF COURSE I am taking care of myself!  But then, came the pictures in my mind:  Me doing.  That’s pretty much been the story of my life (giving & people-pleasing), and while I have made GREAT strides, I have obviously fallen into old habits.  The best part is, I recognize it and can do something about it.

Back to the question.  How will you answer?  When you get up in the morning, what happens?  Typical scenario:  Wake up, take care of pets and children, get self showered, dressed, and possibly fed before going to work or into your day.  Do your do all day–volunteering here, spending extra time on a company project there, studying, trying to please professors/bosses/parents/friends/children.  If you have pets, you find time to feed and walk them a few times a day.  Maybe you’re the boss and are trying to keep clients happy, the house in order, and the bills paid.  If you’re the breadwinner, there is extra pressure.  And the vehicles…they need repair, insurance needs to be paid, and gas has to be purchased to put in the tank.  Finally, you get to the end of the day, hopefully a nice meal is in there, and you fall into bed exhausted–or asleep on the couch because sleep came there first.  Rrrring!  The alarm goes off, and the merry-go-round begins again.

When I ‘got better’ was when I started taking care of myself.   A BIG part of that was my changes in eating, my choosing to see practitioners who could help me address my depression, and getting more sleep–I am still doing all of those things.  But since everything in the previous paragraph relates to me on some level, I realize that I have not been doing the other things that were so life-changing for me six months to a year ago.  A year ago, I began attending meetings and following readings that encouraged me to take care of myself.  I had begun practicing Kundalini Yoga each morning mixed with meditation.  One hour every morning EARLY in the morning was my time by myself to take care of ME.  Several months ago, I added to that Qi Gong practices that gave me even more peace.    I didn’t jump when people said they needed something or when the telephone rang.  I was my happiest me!  THEN, a couple of months ago, I started trying to get more accomplished in my days and found there was less time for that “me” time.  I didn’t even realize it was happening.  But today, I know it.  I will quickly go back into the mode of self-care, and I challenge you to do that for yourself.  The difference it makes is amazing and hard to believe.  I wouldn’t have believed it myself if I hadn’t seen the changes in myself–the positive changes and now the not-so-pretty changes.

In case you’re thinking “Wow, Susan, I thought you wrote earlier that you were a happy person.  What gives?”  Yes, I am a happy person, and it has been very hard for me to understand why things frustrate and irritate me (I am not talking about righteous anger–sometimes, we all have the right for things to make us mad).  I am making so much progress, but it doesn’t mean I never take a step back.  I still take steps back, but now…I realize it, take responsibility for it, and try to do something about it much more quickly than I would have before.  Hopefully, the people I love recognize that effort in me and will continue to encourage me to take time for me.

You can start your day over at any point.  I started my day over at 9:40 this morning and truly feel more like me–the one I enjoy.  It just goes to show you how quickly we allow other people, our own perceived responsibilities, and hurry to take us over.  I’ll be reminding myself with carefully placed post-its to take care of me first, before I take care of the world.  It’s already a beautiful day and a great week.  Make it one for you, too!  We’ll ALL benefit!

Susan…amazed by grace

6 Responses to “Are You Taking Care of YOU? I haven’t been…”

  1. Sonya says:

    We as humans and creatures of God may feel as though we are taking care of ourselves in mind body and soul.. I know, I love to have that feeling. But really you are right, I am a dieting yo yo. I swarm from 5-12 pounds on any given day. Seriously, I will starve for a great date outing adventure then pig out. But it is an issue I have had for a long time. My self image. I go back and forth and I struggle with it every day . But doing what I should do and going to meetings and taking care of myself is on the end of my list. I have so many other things to thik about..
    Yes, geting better makes you realize that you gotta do what you’ve been meaning to do orever… The serious things things…like when you are single..changing all the headlights and oil, making sure the tires are ok, and that your durn vehile will make it from point A to B. Then, your bills, is your insurance covering this or that, are you buying the right dog food, is your kid getting good food at school or should you send it and so on. I so have these same thoughts all of the time but I am single. Started this am at 7. then Baseball at 10am to 12 then me and Wren with the dog to dog park and to the pool and so on and so on. I ask enough questions to certainly drive him crazy with mom questions…but I have to know where I have to be when. It is callenging being a mother, a friend, a child of god and everything else. So no Susan you r not on your own…
    After all this with Wren…I sometimes feel OMG I have to do Real Estate and another sales job but gues what they come in last?

    • suezquesteen says:

      In general, it would seem we are just too hard on ourselves. It sounds like you are managing, but you know you could be thriving! One day at a time…you know! Proud of you.

  2. Carrie says:

    Proud of the growth I have seen in my classmates ~ you inspire me :o)

  3. I enjoyed this greatly. It reminds me that I need to get back to the things (mainly exercise and meditation) that I was doing for myself to feel better …

  4. Vicki Lewis says:

    Thank you for sharing, Susan! It is key to care of ourselves first. Love that you said we can start our day over at any time. So true. Just by making a choice to redirect our mood, feeling, and day. It’s never to late to start again and choose joy, love, happy-good time no matter what’s going on. When we put our oxygen mask on first, we can take care of others. And I like the post-it notes to remind you to take care of yourself. I will start doing this and sharing this with my clients. Love your blog!

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Thoughts to Encourage

Joy is the will which labors, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.~ William Butler Yeats

Whether you think you can or think you can’t you’re right. - Henry Ford

The best way out is always through. ~ Robert Frost

Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. ~ Theodore N. Vail

Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall. ~ Oliver Goldsmith

You must be the change you want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi

Nothing helps like a good nap…

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A Dog is Faithful…