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.

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.

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:

1. I enjoy not being homeless
2. I enjoy not being in hospital
3. I enjoy not vomiting
4. I enjoy not have a migraine
5. I enjoy not declaring bankruptcy
6. I enjoy not going blind
7. I enjoy not being caught outside in a blizzard
8. I enjoy not losing my electricity
9. I enjoy my car not having a flat tyre
10. I enjoy not having a serious illness.

Here’s my list as of time of writing

1. I enjoy not being in pain
2. I enjoy not being employed as a principal
3. I enjoy not being worried about my job
4. I enjoy not have issues with IBS today
5. I enjoy not having a deadline for anything
6. I enjoy not needing to do Christmas shopping
7. I am really enjoying not having to prepare family meals each night
8. I am enjoying not feeling pressured for any reason to be anywhere
9. I am enjoying not being in treatment for head and neck cancer
10. 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!!

Self-caring and sharing with my blogging & social media friends recently for my 70th Birthday! 

 

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