SelfCare is not always candles, music and meditation!

SelfCare is not always candles, music and meditation! It can be but it will be different for all of us and different for each one of us, depending on what is going on in our lives at the time. 

I may live on my own but my life is full of connections and commitments.  Some I find easier to honour than others.  When I find myself reacting to particu;ar situations (OK usually after I have reacted, if I'm honest!!), I usually recognise another part of me needs more healing..  Once we have opened the can of worms that is our past, it takes a lifetime of awareness, blood, sweat and tears to find that inner peace and tranquility we search for.!   

 The tools I share with others are always there for my personal use but there are times when I am so caught up in the 'stuff' that's going on, I need a reminder to practise what I preach!  This beautiful picture of a spiral resonates very strongly with me during the times when I have been 'hijacked' by my old stuff.  Every time it happens and I use the many tools I have in my 'toolkit' I feel a little lighter.   I hope it helps you too. 

Today was one of those days.  It was going to be a slighty unexpected SelfCare day.  The work planned had been postponed due to the teachers' strikes and I saw a beautiful oasis of time stretching in front of me.  It started well with a slower start, followed by my physio exercises and yoga practice. but a phone call broke the tranquility and the rest of the day changed.  I felt a huge surge of resentment and frustration and shared that, unfiltered, with the person at the other end of the phone! It's ok, I knew it was ok to share in that way with that person.

I had planned to get back on my bike for the first time since before winter and had thought I would surprise a friend by arriving for lunch.  Cycling is something I love and something I want to be including in my weekly routine more regularly again. That was not going to happen now.  When I got off the phone, I took those three mindful breaths I encourage everyone to take and felt my body calming.  Why didn't I manage to do that earlier?! 

As my mind and body settled, I began to find solutions:
1. I could still go for a bike ride, just not as long as I had planned.  To be fair, that was probably a good idea, as it was my first bike ride in a while and it wasn't the best day weatherwise. 
2. I could find out if what I was going to have to do could be delayed until slightly later in the day.  The reply was yes, that was possible. 
3. In tricky times I always go to the 16 Guidelines cards.  I laughed out loud when the random card popped out and revealed 'Forgiveness'!!!  When I turned to the 16G handbook, the first thing I read about 'Forgivness' was "Forgiveness is the capacity to reclaim our peace of mind when somehing has happened to disturb us." As always, the 'right' card had appeared.  I will allow 'Forgiveness' to filter through the rest of my day and notice what solutions or answers it brings. 
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I am full of gratitude for the support I receive from all my tools.  What are your favourite tools when something has happened to disturb you? 

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