Honoring Mothers and Preparing for Summer  through Self Care

It’s Mother’s Day week so let’s celebrate the hard work we do each day.  Here’s a big shout out to all women who give so much.

First, a couple of videos to share.  I share these with my family as a subtle reminder of how awesome I am and how they get to take care of me this Sunday.  Ok, I’m not very subtle about it.  We have mostly boys so I don’t wait for the magic to happen.  Ask for what you need and deserve by letting them know this matters to you.  If it doesn’t, well lucky them and hopefully they’ll surprise you.   Every mom in all of her imperfections deserves to be honored and showered with love. 

Now, if the above statement is true, how do we shower ourselves with love?  It’s May and that means it’s crazy busy and summer is almost here.  I love summer—absolutely love it!  And while I love it, being a mom during the summer brings a whole new level of juggling. 

So my question is, “How to you shower yourself with love?”  We want everyone else to do it on Mother’s Day, but what about you?  Do you regularly engage in activities that fill your soul?

For us to be able to answer the endless calls of  “Mom!!” we need to give ourselves a little TLC before summer hits.  Julia Cameron states, “Attention is an act of connection.”  When we give ourselves a little attention and take time to recharge, we prepare ourselves to connect more fully with our family and ourselves.

Let’s do an exercise.  (Adapted from the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron)

1.       Grab a pencil and make a list of 20 things you love to do.  Making cookies, reading 
poetry, roller skating, rock climbing, shooting baskets, taking a nap in the grass, anything you love.  
Can you do it?  20 things!  No wrong answers are even possible so go for it!

2.       Now, look at your list.  Go back and write a date indicating the last time you 
enjoyed that activity.  It’s ok if it’s been a while.

3.       Finally, pick 2 of those activities and set 2 small goals that move you towards your joy.
These can be small.  They are meant to be steps that create time for you 
and your needs in this busy life of demands.

Twenty items did not come easily for me.  I had to let it sit and come back to it.  Then, I was surprised to see how long it had been since I had enjoyed several of the items listed.  The difficulty of the task was a clear indicator that my spirit needed some attention.

Start small.  Keep it simple.  This is not a competition but an invitation.  Love yourself a little.  You are so worth it!

One item on my list was to spend time outdoors.  The two goals for the week were:  1.  Sit on the back patio at the end of the day.  2.  Eat dinner outside one time.  

Small and simple. 

Your spirit longs for connection and is asking for attention.  Use this month of May to fill your soul and practice some self care 2-3 times per week.  Look for small increments of time and utilize those.  It doesn’t take much.  Write a sticky note as a reminder, “Self-care is not selfish!  I am giving my soul attention so I can create connection.” 

Share what fills your soul and supports your mental and emotional health this month of May in the comments below or come visit us on Facebook!