Spit-up On My Shoulder

Last Saturday, I attended a six-hour all women retreat. November was a month of many deadlines and other stresses, so I was VERY ready for this retreat.

The woman who ran the retreat, Jo Hatcher, was wonderful, but I had the darnedest time relaxing because of the build-up of stress in my body. I became very frustrated that I couldn’t unwind during this special time with other women.

Then I woke up Sunday morning with an incredible sense of calm and peace. I guess I had a delayed reaction to all we did Saturday. I made a decision to incorporate three changes:

1) Lay down in my yard and look at the sky every day for as long as I want/can. If I don’t get to this during daylight, I will lay down and look at the stars at night.

2) Cut down on sugar

3) Reread a book that has helped me before about financial stress: Real Prosperity: Using the Power of Intuition to Create Financial and Spiritual Abundance by Lynn Robinson.

So far, so good on my changes. I’ve laid down to look at the sky every day (except for when the ground was soaked from rain and I sat in a chair). Cutting back on sugar I can already feel is having an effect. It’s not like I’ll never eat sweets again - please! - but I think too much sugar puts me on a roller-coaster that ups my stress. I have Real Prosperity next to my bed and it’s the next book I’m going to read.

What I’ve been really happy about is that, compared to many other retreats I’ve attended, I’ve been able to maintain focus on my self-care and relaxation. I know it’s only been five days, but that’s an accomplishment for me! Often before after a retreat, I would come home and feel slammed right back into a stressful life.

What about you? Are you putting yourself on your calendar every day? Even if it’s just five minutes, you’ll find it makes a difference. Look at the sky like me, meditate, stretch, listen to music, take a bath.

I have to laugh at myself because I’m always telling women not to neglect their self-care, and then I fell right back into the trap last month! I’m going to do my best to keep it from happening again. I feel better and so does my family when I take time for me and am not a stressed-out, cranky mom.

Will you give yourself the gift of self-care this holiday season?