Surrender 46: If I Cared for Myself…

Today’s post could be titled Being Love, Part 2. As I allowed love to guide me yesterday, I came across a wonderful post by another blogger, Allison Kenny. Her article was titled “If I Took Care of Myself Like I Take Care of my Daughter…”. Allison lists the ways she would care for herself if she had the same level of love and care for herself as she does for her child. I was captivated. 

                       Read Allison Kenny’s post here. 

At the end of Allison’s post, she asks, 

If you took care of yourself like you do your daughter…what might you do?

  

I took that question seriously, and I’ve thought about it since yesterday. I have two beautiful daughters, a beautiful daughter-in-law and a beautiful granddaughter. I also have a handsome son, two handsome son-in-laws (Nate Pugh will be the second one soon), and four handsome grandsons. I know the level of love and care that I show to them all. For this time of reflection, I chose to change Allison’s phrase slightly, and run with it. 

If I took care of myself like I take care of my grandchildren I would…

play more

be totally myself

tell myself “you are kind, you are smart, you are important”

put on a leotard and a tutu and dance my heart out

sing my favorite song as loudly as I can

wear my favorite color more

If I took care of myself like I do my grandchildren I would…

absolutely believe that I cannot fail

cheer for myself

be present by spending time with myself

encourage myself to be okay with my best efforts

celebrate my successes

cry when I’m disappointed or sad

If I took care of myself like I do my grandchildren I would…

splurge on myself

buy yummy treats after a long day

have dessert before dinner sometimes

play in the mud and enjoy it

hug and kiss with abandon

accept myself exactly as I am

If I took care of myself like I do my grandchildren I would…

take walks through the neighborhood

enjoy a bubble bath

play a new video game

say “I love you” so, so many times

say yes to myself a whole lot more than I say no

not be afraid to ask for what I want

If I took care of myself like I do my grandchildren I would…

paint each toenail a different color

sleep with a cuddly stuffed animal

binge watch a new show

pretend 

tell jokes

say frequently to myself, with great enthusiasm as I attempt new things, “Oh WOW!” (Bit of an inside family joke 😃)

This was such a heart opening experience. And now, it’s your turn. 

If you took care of yourself like you take care of your daughter (son, grandchild, lover, pet, nephew, niece)…what would you do?