Friday, August 13, 2010

Self Care

It’s Friday again. Is it just me or is this summer just whizzing by? Not complaining. I love the summer but this year it has just been too hot to really enjoy it. I’m looking forward to the Fall. The leaves changing, my birthday, the wine festival. Fall is awesome in these parts. I may try to sneak one more trip to the beach before I say goodbye to Summer 2010.

I thought this weekend was going to be low key but as it turns out … not so much. I have an early morning facial appointment on Saturday and I just made an appointment to get my hair cut. I just can’t take it anymore. It’s not going to be a drastic change, as I’ve done in the past, but there will definitely be a change. I hate having to think about hair.

After church on Sunday I plan to see Eat, Pray, Love



Julia Roberts better not wreck this for me. I loved the book and I want to love the movie as well. We’ll see. I don’t usually read reviews before I go see a movie but I just read one. The reviewer didn’t care for it and described Liz Gilbert as selfish. How dare she be pretty and rich and want more from her life? To that I say, “Bite me!”

I like the idea of a woman doing whatever she has to do in order to find peace. Sounds like my own personal journey in some ways. Of course I didn’t go to Italy (yet), India or Bali for peace, but it was a journey nonetheless.

It all started with the recognition that I deserved peace. I deserved to be content. I deserved to be happy. And whatever I had to do to get that, I was gonna do it. I feel sorry for women who say it’s in their nature to always put everyone else first. Really? Always? Gosh. How’s that working out for you? They usually end up on someone’s couch complaining about how they never have any time to themselves. I know I must sound selfish but for real, if I’m not happy, no one will be happy. Period. I’ve been a mother for twenty years and of course, the needs of my children came before my own. I didn’t leave them with babysitters so I could party. I didn’t buy wine instead of formula. And they always got new shoes before I did. But I always managed to sneak some time in for myself. Now that their older they really need to get in where they fit in. Oh, the advantages of having grown kids.

Caring for yourself is not selfish. It’s necessary and if you don’t, who will? So, go ahead and do something for yourself. And don’t feel bad about it.

Have a great weekend.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

I absolutely believe that caring for yourself is not selfish. . .but the author of that book?

I hate that book. (Obviously, you just said you love it, and I'm not trying to change your mind. I respect that you really liked it. I, however, hated it.)

It doesn't help that she was given an advance to write it. So it's not like she was like, "I'm going to go find myself!" It was, "I've just been given a lot of money, so I'm going to conform my experiences to make a bestseller!

Sorry to rant. I'll stop. I agree with you about needing time for yourself, though.

chele said...

LOL @ Sarah: I understand where you're coming from. And I'd probably agree with you if she had pretended like she didn't get a fat advance to write this book. It was never a secret. I ain't mad at her.

Single Ma said...

Standing Ovation!! If you don't take care of self, how will you care for anyone else? I just recently began asking myself this question and I am still learning how to do things that make ME happy. It's definitely a process when you've done the opposite for so long.

I've never read the book, but now, you make me want to before I see the movie.

TJ said...

I think the movie will be good. Self care is so important.

Shell said...

Love this post. You have inspired me to try to do something for myself this weekend.

Remnants of U said...

I didn't read the book, but I saw the movie today. I enjoyed it.

I look at Javier Bardem & think about in these bio-pics how they always cast an extra sexy love interest.

Yes, it is important to take care of self 1st.

Kristy @Loveandblasphemy said...

I was very amused by these men on the radio the other morning - they were complaining about the movie. Of course, they had not read the book, and they were complaining that the main character had nothing wrong with her life, and why did she leave her husband, she was only a woman searching for drama, blah, blah, blah. Men. They are so transparent aren't they? Still fearful of a woman's independence and ability to make choices for herself. Makes them feel all insecure or something.

Rose said...

It took me a lifetime to learn this but it is never to late though to lkearn. I am so glad that I figured it out. If I didn't I would die a young death.Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I'm a lurker of yours. Found you through Ladylee. Please tell us about the movie. I wanted to see it but there were bad reviews.

I work for the Department of Health with mommys and children. I tell the mothers everyday to make time for themselves. They look at me like I'm crazy. loL!
Sasha