Hello Dear Friend,
Welcome to another missive, it is lovely that you are here. It has been a mixed week here on the island, the weather doesn’t know if it is coming or going and I have needed to rest a lot due to the trip to see the rugby. So I have been taking things easy, with lots of knitting, and reading. I am also currently watching Father Brown on catch up, it is a feel-good series full of caricature type characters, bumbling policemen, and villains who are not that villainous. My rest periods this week have me pondering how well we look after ourselves.
Do You Look After Yourself?
Do you?
Honestly?
The older I get, and the more creaks and aches I seem to have, the more I am drawn to look after myself. When I was younger I took my body for granted, as I am sure most of you did too. The more dis-abled I have become, the more I realise that my body needs me to do things to help it. When I was younger I thought nothing of walking for miles to catch a train or visit the shops, it was fun. Now I can’t walk to the bus stop without being in pain. I took myself/my body for granted, it had always worked, so why would it stop? Can you relate to this?
But how to look after yourself - exercise, healthy eating, rest, and things which fill your soul with joy and love would be my prescription. Now, I am not talking about you becoming carrot stick munching gym bunnies… But gentle movement, as much as you can do, will help. I have not been to the swimming pool this week, mostly because I could not walk around the house without a lot of pain, so wobbling around the swimming pool was probably not safe. I will go again next week, as I have missed it. But I have tried to be active as best I can. Last weekend I spent time potting up some seedlings. There is something therapeutic about taking seedlings from a cramped seed tray and giving them space to breathe and grow.
We need to do that for ourselves.
Give ourselves time and space to breathe and grow, whatever that looks like for you. Maybe a spa treatment, or a walk on the coast, or maybe just you, a good book, and a good brew in a coffee shop somewhere.
Just time for you.
Time to breathe.
Time to switch off.
How will you look after yourself? What would you suggest to a friend who needed to just take a breath? Do you have a favourite podcast you listen to? A book recommendation? A favourite piece of music? I have recently been listening to some John Denver, which brings back many happy memories of my parents who loved his music, so a little bittersweet, but happy memories nonetheless.
A Few Suggestions
Free 24-hour Paint Jam with Whitney Freya
Do you need a reason to break out your painting and art supplies? Whitney Freya is running a 24-hour Art session.
The sign-up website says:
Besides sharing our 24 hours of creativity together on social media, YOU are invited to join the inner creative circle for 24 hours of painting workshops led by myself and 14 of my Creatively Fit Coaches.One Zoom link.
24 hours of straight painting workshops.
Join anytime ON JUNE 21st, 2024 starting at 6a PST, 9a EST, 2p London, 11p Sydney (6/22).
Push your own creative boundaries TOGETHER!
FOR FREE!
Lorna Byrne The Path to Self Love Free Course
Robin Wall Kimmerer interview on the BBC’s Start The Week programme from the Hay Festival. The way she talks about nature and the natural world is simply beautiful and if you have not read her book Braiding Sweetgrass, I urge you to give it a go. I have it on audiobook and it is a gentle healing listen.
A heartwarming story from the D-Day remembrance events - a wedding between a 100-year-old D-Day veteran and his 96-year-old bride. The story proves that it is never too late for love.
Until next time, as ever, may your angels and guides watch over you and protect you until we meet again.
Love and Light,
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Until next time, bye for now.
Links:
Painting For 24 hours with Whitney Freya
Lorna Byrne - The Path to Self Love Free Course
BBC Start the Week - Robin Wall Kimmerer interview from The Hay Festival
D-Day Wedding Story on the BBC News
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It is so important to look after ourselves. I need to learn to do it much better. A good reminder, Tracy!
Good afternoon, Tracy - how important it is to look after yourself, both physically and mentally! My Word of the Year this year was "self love", which I realised I had never felt. I always put myself last after caring for others and their needs.
This year, I've given myself more rest time, and even said no to helping others [like time off my volunteering] that would cost me physically and mentally. This has helped me prepare for my knee replacement op, which went ahead last Monday. I made a good recovery in hospital and was discharged last Wednesday!
My lovely son has been doing a great job looking after me, cooking, etc, and I'm doing my exercises regularly. I'm hoping for an early return to reality! So self love and self care does pay off.
And just to show there's no good without bad, Brian has just shouted through that dinner will be late - the oven isn't working!!
Blessings, everyone.