Nurturing and Rest
My mind is so conditioned to just do that I really had to make a conscious decision about just being. To just allow my body the time to heal.
“It’s just a head cold, quit being a baby!” I thought to myself.
Thanks to Neil, whom when I asked “should I go to hot yoga.” he replied “No sweetie, go back to bed, rest, give yourself time to get better.” I knew that was what I had to do, although little nagging voices were there.
“I should be cleaning the kitchen, putting away the growing pile of laundry. I have to go get my passport photo, what about my lunch plans,” and the thoughts kept filling my head.
“NO, go back to sleep, rest.” and that I did. I went back to bed and slept till noon. When I woke, and looked at the time 11.42 a.m., my initial thought was guilt. I got up quickly looked at the pile of laundry, came downstairs saw the messy kitchen. I began to clean the kitchen, and then I stopped. Went upstairs ran a hot bath and added eucalyptus and tea tree oil, laying in the bath reading I finally just let go of the wanting to do, and focused on nurturing my body and giving myself permission to rest.
After a nourishing chicken noodle soup, pineapple green tea and lots of water, I felt a little clearer. ”Great I’m feeling a little better,
now I can tackle the to dos.” a common process for me in so many ways – even in my depression I would feel a little better and push myself and end up going backwards. Fear and doubt crept in, as I recall each time I have started a commitment to my health a sickness or injury has stalled or put a stop to the healthy patterns I created. So I literally forced myself to sit on the couch with my furry blanket and rested for the rest of the afternoon.
How often in life, do we as a society put external needs, wants and to dos ahead of our body, our soul, and our health? It is no one else’s responsibility, it is our own to take accountability and be prepared to put ourselves first – to nurture, nourish and rest our body, mind and soul.
What are ways that you nurture your mind, body and soul?
I am taking 100 Days to Reconnect with Lee for my mental and physical wellness.
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