"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." —Anaïs Nin
Weirdly, starting writing on Substack earlier this year coincided with me going to the dentist and to the hairdresser for the first time since before Covid. The timing suggests self-care boosted my creativity!
This… ‘Remember burden is never yours or mine to carry.
We do not have to wait until teeth fall out, legs break, memory fails — we can adult ourselves with tender self-care — with friending.’ Such a gift of love it is to become your own best caretaker. ❤️
I was interrupted then by a 23 year old who drifted in to chat after checking on her baking. Here’s the rest of that thought, resurrected: thank you for your encouragement to do self care by example.
Yes, dear Mary. I take care of myself by writing also. I am lucky to have a dog who nudges me out of my seat to stop the part that isn't writing. Sending you awesome self-care.
I avoided the dentist for so many years because I always felted shamed by them when I told them I don’t brush my teeth twice a day and I don’t floss very often. I’ve finally found a dentist with dental hygienists who are much more understanding and while of course they still tell me I should floss more they do it in a much more supportive way. For example “try flossing at least one a week” or “keep floss at your desk and floss in the middle of the day”. I still have a hard time actually going it, but the grace they give mw with my imperfect dental habits has made the visits much easier to attend.
I wish you luck and healing with your trip and procedure’s! 💕
Oh Gosh, Laura, I so get it. There are so many ways to encourage change without making someone feel like a failure. There are areas in my life that can use some attention for sure. And if I manage to do so, I celebrate even the tiniest of wins.
Today, I am celebrating that I hung up the stack of clothes that somehow gathered together on the armchair in my room. Even gave myself a pat on the back. 💝🌳
Yes! 👏 I celebrate any time I actually finish a load of laundry all the way to put away. I don’t know why it always feels so hard. Neurodivergency for you I guess. 🤣
I went through a long period a couple of years back, and I was quite dysfunctional. Dishes would stay in the sink for days. I would look at them, knowing I needed to attend to them (I’d been OCD, and such an elderly person for so long), but no matter what, I simply could not make myself do so. Loads of clean laundry became my bedmate. I have no idea what all of that was about…except it felt like my brain was energetically being rewired on a daily basis. It still happens from time to time.
This is relatable. I was also a very tightly wrapped organized. Get everything done. Push push push kind of person until I broke my leg and I haven’t been quite as functional since.
It feels like a very important reorganization, and I think part of it has to do with menopause being finished and getting older. Caring less about certain things and more about others.
Ahhhh! Wow! Thanks for this insight, Prajna. Lands in an open heart. I’m also reading “Wise Power.” It’s helping to create a container of understanding for some of the otherwise unusual things going on with me. If I were of the nature to simply allow it all, it wouldn’t be such a big deal. But it has often felt like layers of flesh being stripped from me. Maybe a sign of how tightly I was bound by it all, which would make sense having been on a tight schedule for so long, with a large family - making sure nobody’s needs fell through the cracks but mine. Now the 8 are all thriving, mostly, and Now it is MY time!
Yes!! Self-care is so important! This was a beautiful reminder. I appreciate you sharing this.
Thank you so much Lori, agree.
Weirdly, starting writing on Substack earlier this year coincided with me going to the dentist and to the hairdresser for the first time since before Covid. The timing suggests self-care boosted my creativity!
Hi Wendy, Thank you for this. I feel how this is all related, connected and a boost to meeting all of who we are as creative beings. Thank you!
This… ‘Remember burden is never yours or mine to carry.
We do not have to wait until teeth fall out, legs break, memory fails — we can adult ourselves with tender self-care — with friending.’ Such a gift of love it is to become your own best caretaker. ❤️
Yes the place that burns inside calling us back to love.
Thank you for mirroring this.
I am attending to myself by writing!
I was interrupted then by a 23 year old who drifted in to chat after checking on her baking. Here’s the rest of that thought, resurrected: thank you for your encouragement to do self care by example.
Yes, dear Mary. I take care of myself by writing also. I am lucky to have a dog who nudges me out of my seat to stop the part that isn't writing. Sending you awesome self-care.
Hello EKB thank you so very much for restocking this post. I really appreciate you.
I feel like a “dentist snob.” I go 3 times a year. 🤷♀️😁 And now that I don’t have little children any more, I go to the bathroom alone. 🤣 silly me!
Yes Lila yes yes yes to Ila 🌹♥️🦋💥
I avoided the dentist for so many years because I always felted shamed by them when I told them I don’t brush my teeth twice a day and I don’t floss very often. I’ve finally found a dentist with dental hygienists who are much more understanding and while of course they still tell me I should floss more they do it in a much more supportive way. For example “try flossing at least one a week” or “keep floss at your desk and floss in the middle of the day”. I still have a hard time actually going it, but the grace they give mw with my imperfect dental habits has made the visits much easier to attend.
I wish you luck and healing with your trip and procedure’s! 💕
Oh Gosh, Laura, I so get it. There are so many ways to encourage change without making someone feel like a failure. There are areas in my life that can use some attention for sure. And if I manage to do so, I celebrate even the tiniest of wins.
Today, I am celebrating that I hung up the stack of clothes that somehow gathered together on the armchair in my room. Even gave myself a pat on the back. 💝🌳
Yes! 👏 I celebrate any time I actually finish a load of laundry all the way to put away. I don’t know why it always feels so hard. Neurodivergency for you I guess. 🤣
I went through a long period a couple of years back, and I was quite dysfunctional. Dishes would stay in the sink for days. I would look at them, knowing I needed to attend to them (I’d been OCD, and such an elderly person for so long), but no matter what, I simply could not make myself do so. Loads of clean laundry became my bedmate. I have no idea what all of that was about…except it felt like my brain was energetically being rewired on a daily basis. It still happens from time to time.
Lila
This is relatable. I was also a very tightly wrapped organized. Get everything done. Push push push kind of person until I broke my leg and I haven’t been quite as functional since.
It feels like a very important reorganization, and I think part of it has to do with menopause being finished and getting older. Caring less about certain things and more about others.
Ahhhh! Wow! Thanks for this insight, Prajna. Lands in an open heart. I’m also reading “Wise Power.” It’s helping to create a container of understanding for some of the otherwise unusual things going on with me. If I were of the nature to simply allow it all, it wouldn’t be such a big deal. But it has often felt like layers of flesh being stripped from me. Maybe a sign of how tightly I was bound by it all, which would make sense having been on a tight schedule for so long, with a large family - making sure nobody’s needs fell through the cracks but mine. Now the 8 are all thriving, mostly, and Now it is MY time!
“Orderly” person, not elderly, though that’s ok too.
😂 dentist snob! I look forward to the day I get to go to the bathroom alone. I still have people talking to me through the door.
Life is a journey thank you for humor
You reach my heart and strike my awe every time. Thank you.
Dear Kathy, thank you so much for these kind and generous words. It asked me to ask someone else.
That was a talk to text typo because my phone thinks I have marbles in my mouth, but I meant to say @kathy it awes me to awe you!
😁❤️🌼
I guess it might be time to go to the dentist. I try to go once every ten years.
I haven’t been in so long I can’t even recall when last time was
oh good. I'm not the only one.
👍🏻
You sound like me. It’s never too late for anything. I always prefer having a second opinion about everything so check it out my friend.
Thank you for your comment
Good idea, Abigail. We have to remember we in control of our bodies and then includes our teeth.
Thank you for your comment .
🌹
Good words🙏