We should never underestimate the value of self-care. It propels us forward on a positive path, increases health, and provides us with a sense of well-being. It is the one thing we can do to improve our lives and it’s free.
And it should be done with the zeal of a gardener: tending to languishing lives, fertilizing the social soil, pruning off bad habits, and expecting the best from the next cultural harvest. By nurturing ourselves today, we make ourselves feel better tomorrow; and by tending to our communities, we make for a stronger society in the future.
There is an intrinsic value in giving the world a robust, hopeful person. It’s what we were designed to do. In the words of Alistair Cooke, we’re here ‘to do good work, to enjoy friends, to fall in love, to hit a ball, and to bounce a baby.’ We’re here to thrive and share that with each other.
There’s also the hidden benefit of plotting out positivity. It’s a technique where one plans a positive event today to gift oneself a positive feeling tomorrow. For example, start a painting or a poem, clean up the house, go for a long walk, or do a workout. It’s self-empowering and enlightening to know that we helped ourselves feel better today with a little self-care from yesterday.
It’s often overlooked in the modern world but simply being a positive influence on others can make the difference between a good day and a bad day in someone’s life. It’s why we sometimes ‘pay it forward’ on a whim. We feel good and want someone else to have a little lift in their day, too.
It may be easy to lose sight of our path when so many things in life have become difficult and overwhelming, but we can have a profound impact on how tomorrow plays out by being grounded and healthy today. A little yoga throughout the week makes for a much brighter and calmer month, and so on.
Take care of yourself, you’re the only you we have.
Whirled Peas 