This past weekend, I fell ill on Saturday afternoon. I tried to push through it, ignoring that anything was wrong. I kept pushing, even making dinner for my family – a family favorite, chicken parmesan. It was at that point, when I could barely stand that I decided to listen to my body. It was saying, “Enough is enough.” I could no longer push through it.
I threw dinner in the oven and went to lay down. It was what my body was trying to get me to do throughout making dinner, yet I felt like I “must” finish making this dinner, even though I would not be eating it. My family was expecting it. It was their favorite. I could not disappoint them. I was not listening to my own body, nor my own advice that I write about sometimes. Funny how that works, huh?
When I woke on Sunday and still felt ill, I decided to take full care of myself. I laid on the couch. I read. I napped. I played Solitaire on my phone. I napped some more. I read some more (if you have not read Glennon Doyle’s book “Untamed,” I highly recommend). I napped some more. I daydreamed out the window a bit. It was the opposite of what I did on Saturday, and yet I did not feel guilty for doing any of it. It was what my body was yelling at the top of her lungs at me to do. So I listened.
And because I listened, my body feels better this morning. I usually have a swollen left foot, and yet this morning for the first time in months, it was not swollen. I can see the bones in that foot. It is a simple reminder from my body that when you take care of yourself, your body responds accordingly. Every once in awhile, we need to remind ourselves how important self-care really is. We are quick to tell everyone else how important it is, yet we need that message every once in a while too. Don’t forget to take care of your own needs too. Your body will thank you.
My Best Self Yet 