Once upon a time,  the mere mention of ‘self care’ would make me cringe. I’d feel like: “What is this person even talking about… this new-age feel good whatever the hell spiritual/emotional/mental… what does it even mean? Today, I see that the truth was that I didn’t care enough about myself to practice self-care, so I hated what it represented and what it was. I’ve since come to realize that self care is a beautiful and healing tool that can be used to recover from our past and prepare us for whats to come. It’s a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual experience that can help us piece ourselves back together.

Self care reminds me that I have to take care of myself first before I am able to help others. If I’m skipping the things that help me to feel better, it slowly builds up a negative space inside of me. I might react more harshly or be critical of others around me, and that’s unfair. There are days where I let my self care routine slip, and I notice how it affects interactions with others and how I feel about myself.

One of the issues with self-care is that most people see it as an ‘afterthought.’ The truth is that it’s a necessity and it ought to be non-negotiable. And while it doesn’t have to cost a lot in terms of money, it does take time and energy to practice it. It’s also fair to consider that self care might not look ‘positive’ for everyone. It’s not all essential oils and bath bombs and hike through nature. Sometimes, it means setting boundaries in relationships or moving past old ideas and re-building ourselves in a way that promotes growth versus stifles it. It’s not always easy, but self-care can absolutely be used to discover a deeper understanding of ourselves, and live a more fulfilled and joyful life.