The Queen's Chair: The Last Thing I Did For Myself Was...
How would you finish this sentence? My answer is really easy. The last thing I did for myself was buy tickets for Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple, buy shower gel at Bath and Bodyworks, go to physical therapy with my trainer. (I am recovering from a stroke) I ask this question for one simple reason. Are you taking care of yourself?
As an author-writer-social marketer-blogger and mom, I sometimes get lost in my literary writing world with my writer's group, children's world and have to deal with writing deadline pressures, trips to sporting events and music lessons, school visits for open houses and concerts, doing room parent duty in my youngest child's class, planning school and sporting events, reviewing homework and studying for exams, keeping my house (inside and out) in order, furthering their religious education, watching out for aging parents, and my needs always end up on the back burner. That's something that is instilled in most women and moms. Put your kids/family first and yourself last.
I've changed my way of thinking.
This past summer, I finally got a chance to create my own quiet and green space on my porch. I swept my front porch, bought a wicker furniture set that I liked, put out plants from inside my home, hung up wind chimes from trips to different cities, and added flowers. Sounds simple, right? Yet, it took me eight years to do this because I put everyone's needs ahead of my own. My daughters swept off rugs and moved objects off the porch so I could have my own piece of Nirvana.
I loved sitting out on the porch surrounded by rose bushes. Besides reading, I got a vibe for the neighborhood's pulse. The heart beat and sounds were intoxicating. I heard moms arguing with their children and neighbors singing; other times I watched people strolling the sidewalks or riding bikes. Some even ate cones from the neighborhood ice cream store.
We all worry about paying bills. I want you to worry about doing something for yourself. As hard as we all work, you should spend a little something on you. The purchase doesn't have to be a big one. Buy yourself a gift card, treat yourself to a cup of tea, or take yourself to a movie.
Just do something for you. Take care of you: You deserve it.
With all that said, now how would you finish the sentence?
As an author-writer-social marketer-blogger and mom, I sometimes get lost in my literary writing world with my writer's group, children's world and have to deal with writing deadline pressures, trips to sporting events and music lessons, school visits for open houses and concerts, doing room parent duty in my youngest child's class, planning school and sporting events, reviewing homework and studying for exams, keeping my house (inside and out) in order, furthering their religious education, watching out for aging parents, and my needs always end up on the back burner. That's something that is instilled in most women and moms. Put your kids/family first and yourself last.
I've changed my way of thinking.
This past summer, I finally got a chance to create my own quiet and green space on my porch. I swept my front porch, bought a wicker furniture set that I liked, put out plants from inside my home, hung up wind chimes from trips to different cities, and added flowers. Sounds simple, right? Yet, it took me eight years to do this because I put everyone's needs ahead of my own. My daughters swept off rugs and moved objects off the porch so I could have my own piece of Nirvana.
I loved sitting out on the porch surrounded by rose bushes. Besides reading, I got a vibe for the neighborhood's pulse. The heart beat and sounds were intoxicating. I heard moms arguing with their children and neighbors singing; other times I watched people strolling the sidewalks or riding bikes. Some even ate cones from the neighborhood ice cream store.
We all worry about paying bills. I want you to worry about doing something for yourself. As hard as we all work, you should spend a little something on you. The purchase doesn't have to be a big one. Buy yourself a gift card, treat yourself to a cup of tea, or take yourself to a movie.
Just do something for you. Take care of you: You deserve it.
With all that said, now how would you finish the sentence?
[We all worry about paying bills. I want you to worry about doing something for yourself.]
That's a fact isn't it? We (moms all over the world) position ourselves last on our own lists because we have fallen into the superwoman syndrome.
I will say that I have been really good to myself in recent times. I've splurged on little gifts for myself and have been walking more taking in nature. You know what Sister Marsha? It feels great! Thanks again for this empoweing blog.