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Heartwings Love Notes 779 - The Importance of Self Care

Heartwings says, "Taking care of ourselves is our most important task."

As children we are often told to be kind, to be sharing and giving, and to show our love to others by how we treat them. We are
seldom told to care for or to love ourselves. I remember as a child sending for a nurse kit from Quaker Oats. It was advertised on a
radio program I listened to. Being a nurse was a way to care for others, and I bandaged up my teddy bear and treated him to a
hospital stay as I played nurse in my little white cap and apron.

As young people we feel invulnerable, we can go for a night without sleep and hardly notice. Eating whatever we like is the rule rather
than the exception. We seldom need to sit and rest after exertion but can continue on as if we were made of steel. I think I was in
my late forties when I began to realize I could no longer treat my body as if it were some kind of machine that could go on and on. I
began to notice that if I didn't pace myself I had to slow down or even stop in the middle of my efforts to get everything done.

I recognized that when I ate certain foods I was uncomfortable; when I didn't get enough sleep I was dragging; and I could no longer
treat my body as I had been used to do. I realized that while it was strong and able my body needed a different kind of attention.
Rather than treat it as a machine that just needed fuel and occasional maintenance, I needed to treat it as if it were a faithful animal
that was carrying me where I needed to go. I also had to accept its messages as needs and wants rather as impediments to what I
wished to do.

The importance of my self care grows with each passing year. Movement I used to take for granted has become an effort. There are
even things I can't easily do at all any more. But what is more important is that I remember to do what I need to do for my comfort as
well as my health: Rest between efforts, meditate, take time to sit with my feet up, put in my eye drops, drink enough water, eat
enough fiber, avoid what I can no longer comfortably digest. My list could go on and on, however I've made my point. Self care
matters. More importantly, remembering to care for myself means I can continue to care for others, and that most of all is a good
reason to do so.

May you find good ways to practice self care.
 

I love to hear from readers and would be honored if you would comment and let me know any suggestions or thoughts. If a friend sent you this, you can sign up at my web site, www.heartwingslovenotes.com, where more love notes can be found in the archives.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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