Take Care of You

I have not, as a rule been very good at taking care of myself. My energy has always been poured into squelching my feelings or wants and giving to and doing as much as I can for everyone else.  After almost 57 years, I am finally ready to admit that the plan was flawed.  While I believe that God wants us to be kind and generous and giving and loving and forgiving, I have recently been urged and told that this does not mean at all expense to my health.  I am very fortunate that I have been a very healthy person, but I now wonder whether my emotions could have been healthier had I been willing to admit this years ago.

For years, I have exercised.  There are plenty of people in my life who are overweight.  It has effected me to the point that I refuse to get on the diet merry-go-round.  I have worked hard to stay fit and relatively slim.  It has taken me a while to learn to do that in a healthy way, but I am getting the knack.  I exercised throughout the years of being a stay at home mom and even when I was pregnant to a reasonable degree.  A few years ago, I got out of the habit of exercising and realized that I had made a huge mistake.  My body and mind both missed it tremendously.  There is something about exercise, not just doing physical work about the house, but actual exercise that lifts you up!  That is one thing I have done for me and am back to doing it.  Make the time!

For my last birthday, some of the kids got together and purchased a gift certificate for a massage.  It took me six months to finally schedule an appointment.  Actually, "Super Son" finally got tired of asking me whether I had done it and took charge.  Now, I am not sure whether the kids bought this for me, or bought it because they are tired of me always asking them to rub my shoulders.  Either way, I am okay with it. I do a lot of typing and definitely tense up when I get stressed.  I have to admit that I have also grinded my teeth for years.  There is nothing like having your husband smack you on the head, because your grinding is disturbing him! Anyway, I went as scheduled and absolutely floated home.  I am now a regular there and go for a massage every three or four weeks. 

Now I am not saying that a massage is the answer.  Find something that pampers you.  For some women it might be a night out with the girls, a manicure, a pedicure, a facial, or even a shopping trip.  Find what works for you and make the time to do it.  Schedule it, pamper yourself.  You are the only one who knows what you need.  You deserve it.  You will be a better person and wife and mother for it.  Speaking of wife, don't forget that you are not just a mother, you are also a wife.  Make time to go out to dinner with your husband and enjoy time with him.  Again, it was not an area that I was always good at.  Don't busy yourself into oblivion.  It is a pretty lonely place. 

You have to take care of yourself and be healthy before you can help others!