Self-Care Stories #7 48/51 #LifeThisWeek.117/2019.
Dear Readers,
We have finished the series for 2019 for Self-Care. However, “I” know how much it means to me to continue the practice of caring for the self…and so it will return as a regular prompt in 2020.
My approach for self-care in recent weeks.

Daily. Every Day.
I’ve long been the fan of my morning ritual of:
- dress with purpose
- go out to a coffee shop, shopping centre, cafe….
- order my small, latte, double shot in a glass…..
- open my current art journal and see where I am at..or what I want to share today
- and often have two of these little biscuits
IF I do not get to do this because of being unwell or in Sydney for an appointment I really, really miss it so as best as I can, it’s the next day for me.
About the journal.
- all pages are art-paper – heavy-ish quality
- all are blank
- sometimes I prep a page layout with paint at home
- I write a bit
- I might add a list- for example, what went well
- I write to get stuff out…usually helpful and always something I need to do and work on
- I add in little patterns and designs
- I make one if these little babies last me about 2-3 months if I can because they are expensive
- I used a changing range of unipin black pen (0.5 or 0.8) for writing, outlining and some mixed media for colour
Something to read.
Only recently, when I found this little book, have I read something in this special self care time. This book has given me so many insights and I find myself nodding in agreement. It has confirmed lots of what I have been learning in these recent years and it’s done in such a great, easy-to-follow way.

Author: Ashley Davis Bush
This excerpt is from: Enjoy Your Non-Toothache.
The wise Vietnamese spiritual leader Thich Nhat Hanh talks about gaining inner peace via the path of noticing what you don’t have. His classic is to enjoy your “non-toothache”. If you’ve ever had toothache you will know (as I do well!) it causes a bit of pain..ok, a lot of pain. All you do when you have it is notice it, thinking about it…..you’d give anything not to have a toothache.
However when the toothache is gone, you quickly forget about the pain and immediately begin to focus on other issues or concerns.
For this equanimity practice write a list of ten things that, for today, you are currently NOT experiencing, but would definitely be unpleasant if you were. In other words, write a list of “it could be worse” items.
The author’s list:
- I enjoy not being homeless
- I enjoy not being in hospital
- I enjoy not vomiting
- I enjoy not have a migraine
- I enjoy not declaring bankruptcy
- I enjoy not going blind
- I enjoy not being caught outside in a blizzard
- I enjoy not losing my electricity
- I enjoy my car not having a flat tyre
- I enjoy not having a serious illness.
Here’s my list as of time of writing
- I enjoy not being in pain
- I enjoy not being employed as a principal
- I enjoy not being worried about my job
- I enjoy not have issues with IBS today
- I enjoy not having a deadline for anything
- I enjoy not needing to do Christmas shopping
- I am really enjoying not having to prepare family meals each night
- I am enjoying not feeling pressured for any reason to be anywhere
- I am enjoying not being in treatment for head and neck cancer
- I am enjoying not being in debt
How is your self-care?
Meeting up with friends is a really important part of my self-care and I am so glad to have people I know to do so!
On a recent Monday Kirsty and I met for coffee and a good old catch up. Kirsty is one busy lady and I am glad to see her role helping educators and parents better understand kids with special needs is taking off. Kirsty can be found here.
Sanch and I caught up recently when we met for coffee! Wishing my blogging friend all the best in her new job AND new place of living. Her blog is here. I shall miss her presence in my life on the Central Coast! I am sure we will catch up again though!!

Excellent Self-Care on 18 November with Sanch!
Self-caring and sharing with my blogging & social media friends recently for my 70th Birthday!

L-R. Me, Sam, Veronica, Grace & Kimba
I hope your self-care is going well!
Tell me more in the comments.
Denyse.
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Next Week’s optional prompt is: 49/51 Taking Stock #5 9/12/19
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