Do you remember that song from Camelot? The one that talks about the Merry Month of May…the month of, “yes, you may.”
Growing up good little boys and girls did what Mother (and pretty much everyone else) told them was correct behavior. As a result, you were polite, said please and thank you, turned in your homework on time and cleaned your room without being asked. Well, I’m sure that cleaning stuff happened occasionally without being asked. The point is you knew what your mother expected; that you were to treat others with respect and courtesy.
She told you to button your coat when you went out in the cold because she didn’t want you to get sick.
Now you know that it takes more than wearing a sweater to keep yourself from getting sick.
She told you to drink your milk because she wanted you to have strong bones.
Now you know it takes more than drinking milk to have strong bones.
She told you to listen to your teachers because she wanted you to learn the lessons being taught at school.
Now you know more than the teachers in a classroom provide the lessons you need to help you create your amazing life.
The question to consider as you are reading this is: How are you doing at this mothering thing when it comes to your self-care?
As an adult, mothering yourself is an attitude toward self-care which needs to be addressed. You are encouraged here and now to give yourself permission… to say, “yes, you may” about taking care of yourself.
Have you ever dismissed that nagging feeling of common sense when you promised you’d only work just 15-minutes longer on that new idea that’s been noodling around in our head all day? Then end up working for three hours and you didn’t get enough sleep…again. Or, skip your workout because you need to make another phone call. How often do you look up to realize that you didn’t get away from your desk longer than that restroom sprint? What about breakfast, lunch and your dinner routine? Not eating nutritious meals on a regular basis because you don’t have time to shop or cook, let alone digest them.
Nurturing yourself also includes breathing space…downtime in whatever form you crave. Mine includes journaling, walks on the beach and soaking in bubble baths. You may like to get lost in planting a flower bed, playing a sport, or sketching a still life.
It doesn’t matter what you choose to do in your leisure time…what matters is that you take time to step away from the pursuit of business to pursue the business of being a whole person in body, mind an spirit. The result will be a you who brings a stronger and more compassionate self to the business we are passionate about.
Now, what’s it going to be? How do you choose to mother yourself?
