Workin' on it

My focus right now is working on my emotional endurance. Wearing many hats and being a nurturer to many is super hard work! I think I'm going to need a cape and spandex, though, if this all keeps up! ;)

Today I forced myself to "om", do a little yoga, and to pray. All excellent things to do for emotional well being, yet very often I tell myself there is no time. I need to quit listening to myself!

My word that I think on as I om is "nurture" and I remind myself to nurture self and nurture others.

I have the nurturing others thing down. Not only do others not let me forget that I need to nurture them, but after so many years of practice I could do it in my sleep! But how many times do we nurturers forget to nurture ourselves? I think that was/is my downfall and the reason that depression was my stalker last fall.

During the days that I om and remember to nurture myself, I try to enjoy the moments when I *am* nurturing myself: to enjoy the smells and warmth in the shower, to eat a meal that I enjoy and that is healthy, to read a book that I like, to pick up a magazine for myself at the store. Basically, showing love to myself. Being a best friend to me.

Sometimes it doesn't come easy. Sometimes I have to ask myself, "If my friend was going through this and at this point that I am, what would I do for her?" and then I do that for me.

I'm trying to remember that if I don't take care of myself, I'll have nothing left to give. An example that I try to remember is that if I don't take care of my van: fill it up with gas and oil, change the oil regularly, give it a tune-up and alignment, etc., pretty soon it won't be able to take me to all of the places that I need to go. The same goes for my physical and emotional well being. I can't give to others if I have nothing left to give.

Nurture. It is a good word for me. "Om"ing is a good way to clear my mind before prayer. And yoga stretches calms my body, and prepares the way for the oming to clear my mind. Yoga -> oming -> prayer. It is a good way to get me ready for all of the emotional work that will come my way during the day.

This is the prayer I need to live by:

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Have a wonderful day, and remember to be your own best friend throughout the day!