Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure. ~ Oprah
I need no reminding how short life is, as the quote above states. Hence, lately I’ve been relearning to be more compassionate to others and also to myself.
When you’re going through something (in my case, grief and uncertainty the war nearby brings), it’s easy to notice people who are not showing up for you, especially if those people are in your front row seat. It’s easy to feel anger towards people who act in questionable ways, dismissing and diminishing your pain, whether they do it intentionally or not.
But I’ve come to a point where I’m letting go of all that hurt, disappointment, and expectations I impose on others. Because you know what, we are all going through something! Whoever is saying otherwise is smoking something. Seriously, I think the collective grief from the pandemic alone has worn all of us out. No-one is bringing anyone “casserole” anymore, we have to cook our own.
So, I’ve been tidying up my mental space this spring, and choosing compassion over judgement. That means self-care to me. Apparently, true self-care is self-compassion. I like this thought a lot.
As usual, I’d love to hear your thoughts. First, in what ways are you cutting people some slack? Second, how are you taking care of yourself, nowadays? Please do share, we could all learn from each other!
Note: By the way, self-care did literally come packed in a box; my prize (pictured above) from the Body-Positivity Contest. I’ve been wrapping myself in all this goodness. Many thanks to the contest sponsors Akanni Beauty for catering to grown women’s skincare needs, Koelevate for inspiring my own physical exercise routine as I whip myself back into shape 🙂 and all other sponsors I might not have mentioned.
To learn more about what both these brands stand for, check them out and also connect with them on Instagram, if you’re there. It’s Workers’ Day, after all. We could show some appreciation for the amazing work individuals behind these meaningful businesses do.
Happy May Day, Everyone!