I consider myself to be excessively blessed to have the people in my life that I do. Many of my best connections have been made online. And I think isn’t funny that at the inception of the internet chat rooms were seen as secretive places where you could be lured away to some unthinkable end. Tragically that was true in some cases this was factual.
Luckily these days making friends in line especially as an adult is generally safe and fairly normal. The internet gives us access to people we’d never just bump into. And it’s been through social media that I’ve made proper lifelong friendships.
Recently my most excellent friend, Rachel said we must never give up and we must be kind to ourselves. She’s right of course, but here’s the thing, I’m actually not very good at being kind to myself, while I’m excellent at telling others to take of their mental and physical health and quick to remind them that doing so is both essential and not selfish, I’m blooming awful at taking my own advice.
I don’t know why I don’t think I deserve the same compassion and patience I have for others but that’s how I am. If I don’t do something well I call myself names, I’m not gentle with my emotions or my physical body. If someone spoke to Rachel this way I’d take them to task. In short I’d not stand for it.
When I was in hospital on my last morning I chatted with staff nurse, Cindy. We spoke about my recovery and she said when it comes to recovery everything matters. What I eat, how I sleep, what I do and then she how you treat yourself. It all matters and if you don’t take care of one of those you’re not taking care of you. It struck a cord, this was seriously excellent advice and it shouldn’t need saying but so many of us are just not kind to ourselves.
For once I vow to break this cycle I put myself in and whilst I can’t be rushing around doing stuff and life will happen at a slower pace it makes it the perfect time to work on being good to myself. A little while without deadlines and demands should give me the headspace I need to make sure I matter to me