Inspirations by Joanne

Do you take care of you?

Self care is a gift to yourself. It is necessary for overall good health and well being. Health care providers or care persons are partners with you on your journey in this life. It is not their responsibility to take care of you. It is your responsibility to care for you. So why don’t we care for ourselves?

It is very difficult to stay committed to oneself. To give to yourself first before giving to others. We are not wired to do it. From the time we are old enough to understand, we are told to be kind to others, and always be nice to your neighbor.  The Biblical reference: “Do unto others as you would have done to you”, comes to mind. Take a moment to look at the phrase from another viewpoint. If you are being kind to someone, then take a moment to be kind to you. Expecting others to do the same for you as you would for them is a reality that will lead to disappointment.

Putting oneself first or taking care of yourself is considered selfish and unnecessary. Living in societies where receiving a manicure or pedicure is considered frivolous and a waste of valuable money. When the reality is that taking care of our feet and hands is pivotal to overall health. There was a time when health care clinicians would look at your hands and feet to check for oxygenation and diseases that impact the nails and joints.

Start your self care journey today. Don’t wait. Do it now.  Start with the things YOU like. Go for a walk, listen to your favorite music, try that new recipe. Anything that you do for you is self care. It doesn’t have to be time consuming or costly but rather something as simple as watching a movie. Step outside of your comfort zone, take 5, 10, 15 minutes for you. Be selfish. Be indulgent. Do something for you.