Day 5 activities for myself

I was trying to think of some activities I enjoy doing, and I've already been doing them! I go for walks, I did a half-day meditation class, I did a dance class with my husband last week, I've been playing guitar since summer. Tonight I escaped to a coffee shop to read a few chapters in some books I was longing to read. Mommies really need "Me-Time" and my husband's on board, so I'm really doing it.

 

Wonderful report prisd! We all love to take care of ourselves, if we can bear to do it!

 

When I place myself first ....guilt starts swirling around in my head. This becomes one of my journal topics. I say to myself it is perfectly normal to feel guilty. Many feel guilty when placing themselves first. I write about just letting the guilt go. I Wiil be healthy and happier when it is done.

 

Hi, Stella. I was the sole caretaker for my aged mother and she wanted to be first in everyone's mind, God bless her. She just couldn't be pleased enough and it nearly drove me and my older brother and sister nuts. For you, give what you can to others but make you you give at least as much or more to yourself. Then y ou will have the energy to give more to your husband and kids. Taking time out to read a book is always great. I write books, so I know.
A list of them is at CreateSpace eBooks under Walter Oleksy including one on TMS called God Does Not Want You to be in Pain, which may be listed under my co-author Eric Watson. Have a great weekend.

 

Hi Stella,
This sounds like a very empathic way to hold the guilt, and not get identified with it. It is part of the human condition, a form of suffering, and it is natural. And you will do what you need to for yourself, despite the guilt.

 

Walt, would love to read your book. Will add it to my list. Stella, I understand the whole guilt thing. I feel guilty right now being on the computer while my daughter's calling for me, or any time I'm at home trying to get something done while she's competing for my attention, but somehow when I'm out of the house on my own, I feel such freedom. Good idea to journal about the guilt. I'll have to try that.

 

Good for you, for taking time for yourself, prisd!
When my daughter was a toddler, I practiced centering prayer each day--a type of meditation. She quickly learned that that was Mom-time, and waited the 15 or 20 minutes to ask for something. Today she's a very empathetic 22 year old!

 

Wow Gigi, that's pretty amazing. Right now, I wake up at the break of dawn to do my meditation, before anyone has woken up, and just skip it if I don't wake up early enough. But perhaps it would be a good lesson to my daughter to have her see me practice this from time to time. The only other time she's learned to be patient is when I'm cooking dinner, which is good because then we all get to eat