Self-care Tested
My self-care challenge was truly put to the test this week. Bad adoption news kicked my butt.
In order to best care for myself, I took some time off work and tried really hard not to feel guilty about it. I know it was the best thing for me and I got a lot of support from everyone to do it, but I still felt a bit weird about it.
I wasn’t sick, but I definitely felt incapable of functioning. Fuzzy brain, spontaneous crying, and overall body fatigue and aches/pains.
Grief.
No bueno.
I turned to a trusted source for self-care: The Woman’s Comfort Book – A Self-Nurturing Guide for Restoring Balance in Your Life by Jennifer Louden.
Chapters are written like self-care recipes. You find out what the assignment is, what it isn’t, what you need and when to do it leaving you no excuse not to take care of yourself.
Some of my favorites:
A Day Off – It sounds a lot like Pajama Day with excellent ideas like: making a picnic, a bliss list, being a tourist for the day, reconnecting with someone special, just being day, and silent day. I highly recommend this.
Hiding Under the Covers – Doesn’t really need any further explanation, does it? This is exactly what Mary Paffard advocated for us to do – REST.
When I Think of Comfort I Think of Food – permission to eat what you want without feeling guilty about it. I’d argue most American women could stand to read this chapter.
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It wasn’t until Saturday morning during my half-marathon training that I really felt the physical effects of our bad news. During my warmup I felt like I was trudging through oatmeal. My legs were heavy and slow and my brain was foggy.
Although about halfway through my walk/run the cobwebs finally lifted and I felt my mood lift and I felt like I’ll eventually feel good again.
I’m so glad for this new found awareness of how a little self-care goes a long way.
Yoga+Music365
Today’s yoga brought to you by Deborah at It’s All Yoga in Sacramento.
Today’s music is Killed by Bears – Self Titled.
Don’t forget FREE Fridays at 4:30 with the new It’s All Yoga teachers (21st and X in Sacramento) – you’ve got to sign up online www.itsallyoga.com.
NEW!!!! Mondays at 5:45 in February I’ll be teaching a Level 1/2 at It’s All Yoga – come join me.
Teacher Goes Back to School 
We’re here for you Tams. You just keep taking good care of yourself.
xo,
E
@e- thanks sista!
Hey Tami,
Glad you are feeling better. I look forward to seeing you…and “sick” has many definitions, so don’t say you weren’t…you WERE. Your mental state and physical state were not where they should be…and nothing wrong with that! See ya tomorrow!
@rachel – thanks for the support. it means a lot.
How cool that she wrote to you. Sounds like another “must read.”
@virginia – i know! i love all of her books. just reading them is self-care for me. definitely check them out.
Thank you for the kind words and i’m glad my first book, written so long ago, is still out there helping. I also hope you will have better adoption news soon. Here’s to self-care increasing our ability to bend without breaking.
@jennifer – i love your books. in fact, my first was the couple’s comfort book. it helped me avoid a breakup. in fact, we are still together after 14 years!