I love::
This hour once a week that's all mine. When no one calls me Mama...or SouleMama. An hour full of: scratched up dance floors; shuffle-ball-changin'; silliness; laughing alongside girls half my age and women twice it; dear friends; Broadway showtunes; oh yeah, and sweat too.
"...understand that to nurture and love others with the grace you desire means taking care of yourself and cultivating your own inner harmony. Inner harmony grows not by finding ways to get away from your child, but by giving yourself the gift of a hot bath at the end of a long day, reading a book of poetry, talking to a friend on the phone, taking a nap, crying, getting a massage, having a day off from cleaning and cooking, staying in your pajamas all day, swimming, going out to eat, or attending a conference. Do something for yourself as you give. Learn to laugh at yourself and not take yourself so seriously."
~ Peggy O'Mara, The Way Back Home
I remember reading these words, and the wonderful essay they come from, when Calvin was just a few months old. Though the words seem simple, they are so huge and true. I remember a light bulb going on as I realized many of the struggles I was facing in being a mother at the time were simply that I wasn't mothering myself very well. It was one of the most important lessons I learned in those days, and it's one that stays at the center of how we do things around here. Which isn't to say that we all need reminders from time to time. I was happy to stumble upon this bookmarked page in this book recently (when I was removing it from the dog's mouth. Hmn).
If you feel inclined to share, what's one thing you've done 'just for you' in recent days? And if you can't think of a thing, what's something you can do TODAY?
