The Necessity of Self-Care
[Original post 9.12.2019]
The past two weeks have been emotionally draining for me. I've barely slept, I've wanted to cry all day everyday, and I have had NO energy.. but that's okay because I've learned that I need to feel EVERY emotion no matter how painful. That's the only way I will grow through this.
So that brings me to my topic: self-care. It's important to do things that make you feel good, even when you don't feel like doing anything at all.
Last weekend, I was invited to dinner with some friends. I'm going to be honest, I didn't want to go. I didn't want to be around a lot of people, have to socialize, and smile my way through it. I thought about canceling so many times but ultimately, I ended up going. You know what else? I had a great time too. My energy was low afterwards but that's okay because I needed to have genuine interaction with people (no matter how much I wanted to stay in bed).
This week, I shared my blog with a select few people. I was SO scared of what their reaction would be. I didn't want to take my mask off and show anyone the pain I was harboring. The most amazing things kept happening afterwards though. I started to feel free...loved...appreciated...seen...nurtured. The reactions I received were just so uplifting.
Those may seem like small steps to others but to me, they're pivotal points in my healing. I need to push myself into being back around people that love me. I need to get back to sharing my truths, no matter how painful. I need to accept that I will usually feel everything at once but it's better than feeling nothing.
I'm still going to have some rough days but I'm going to try my best to reach out whenever they arise. Reaching out this past week has helped me feel a sense of normalcy and I need that. Self-care doesn't always have to be spa days or anything elaborate (even though I definitely have a hair appointment and a nail appointment next week 🙌🏽). Sometimes it's a walk outside, a long cry, a phone call to a friend, or even a nap.
If you don't take care of yourself emotionally/mentally, you will eventually stop taking care of yourself physically. Plus, it's not up to anyone else to take care of you.
Until next time; Be You. Do You. LOVE YOU 💜
