Earlier this month I attended 9 days of intense workshops for my animal communication school. Three of the days were all focused on “Death and Dying”. We dove into our own losses, and released a lot of sadness, guilt, and grief of our own. I was amazed at the amount of guilt I was still holding onto, deep down, about Echo’s death. I also released much more sadness about Kodabear, and having his 4 yr anniversary of his death fall in that time, really helped me let go, as well. I feel much better now. It was an amazing time–I really connected with many of my classmates. They became my friends, my tribe. It was necessary, appreciated and much needed.

I was also looking forward to my return home, so I could finish “processing” what I discovered AND released. However, life had a different idea for my first week back. It took me a few days to get the house back in order, laundry done, groceries back in the fridge. THEN: BAM! the world felt like it exploded. 3 horrible things happened in our country in a 4 day span. My head was spinning from the sadness, shock, grief for all of those innocent beings lost in that time. Finally, on Sunday I realized I had to let myself feel what I was feeling. I had to allow myself to cry for all: for all MY sadness, for all the country’s sadness. It was ok to grieve. It was ok to cry. It was then OK to give in to my desire for my favorite comfort food (ice cream!!). I spoiled myself, I cried, I grieved for those I didn’t know, I grieved for the country I used to love, I grieved for the feeling of being safe that we all USED to have. I sobbed. I hugged my dogs. I took them for a walk and got outside. I watched an old movie. I got a good nights sleep. and then.

BAM!!

I woke up today, feeling more like myself than I have in a few weeks.

It was then I realized AGAIN how important self-care really is. It is not just eating the right foods. It is alone-time. It is comfort foods. It is taking care of yourSELF. It is nature. It is a salt bath. It is being around the right people who simply GET you, and allow YOU to be the true, authentic YOU. It is feeling like you are truly being heard. It is laughing, even when times are not funny, and not feeling guilty about it.

Self care is ONE of the most important, if not THE most important, things you can do for yourself. We are so good at putting every body else before us. I know, because my husband is doing that right now. He just started his own business, and is working non-stop. His body is telling him to slow down, but his brain is telling him he can’t. HE has to prove himself to his clients. He has to take care of all these people, and he himself must wait. My question to him is: for how long? People can wait for him to service their furnace for one more day, while he nourishes his body with rest, or his soul with family time outside at the lake. Or his mind with an hour of nothingness. I trust that he will get to this point soon, on his own, and we will then have a good balance of work and family time. I finally learned how important it is, but it is also something that some have to figure out for themselves.

I feel like we put too much of our self-worth on what OTHERS think of US, and are always trying to  prove ourselves to them. When really, our opinions of ourselves is more important than anything. If we feel that we deserve that day off, or that ice cream, or that alone time, we will allow ourselves to do it, and enjoy it, and it will then be easier for us to shine our light. When WE feel confident about ourselves, deep inside, it then shows itself to the world as an inner self-confidence that leads others to theirs.

Does that make sense? It does to me, so I guess it will shine on to others as well!

I am now going to practice what I speak about (I am not preaching! lol) and go spend some time with the dogs. and then get Acupuncture. and then relax!

Until next time……