High Five for You

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It’s too bad that the phrase self-care has become a buzzword or buzz phrase, because it means that at some point, we’ll get tired of saying it. But we need it. All of us.

Now that we don’t have kids in the house, it’s supposed to be easier to take care of ourselves, but it isn’t. There’s always some excuse. I NEED to do the dishes. I NEED to fold all these clothes. I NEED to check my social media accounts.

The truth is…you don’t.

If you’re an adult, living on your own, you get to decide what you NEED to do. You get to create your own reality.

Lately, I’ve been asking myself this question: What do you WANT to do? When I figure out what it is, I do it.

I joined another writing challenge, because I WANT to finish my book and sometimes it’s hard for me to justify that I should write when the house is full of stuff that NEEDS to be done. The group sent a spreadsheet to everyone taking part in it and every single day, you add the number of words you’ve typed.

I can NOT let a day go by without adding words to my daily total, so even if it means I’m the last one still awake, I’m typing.

What is it that you do, simply for yourself, and you protect that time or activity like nothing else? Do you make sure you get to read every day? Do you work out, do yoga, or walk daily? Do you have a certain amount of water you must drink? Do you make sure you eat both fruits and veggies every single day?

If nothing comes to mind, then I’m here to tell you that you need to rethink your life. Self-care shouldn’t be trendy; it should be a necessity.

Figuring out who you are authentically involves becoming your number one fan. Look in the mirror. Can you come up with at least five compliments?

You’re with yourself longer than you’re with any other single person. Liking who you are and making sure you have something to look forward to every single day should be a prerequisite for a happy life.