How much time do you spend, doing things for others and helping others to be better people, lifting them up and being kind? So much that you lose your beauty, your true identity, your authentic self.
I spent 24 years making people beautiful on the outside, with no regrets I lost my own beauty on the way. I finished work through illness of allergies, but in the process of becoming allergic to almost everything, I lost my hair. I actually had to cut my hair off, it was weak, sick and falling out plus cracking off. I remember the feeling of the clippers only one year ago this month, going up the back of my head, to give my hair the look of, not a mullet. I remember thinking of all the women who had to do this and the special ladies in my life, who I watched and who I personally had to shave their heads over the years. Those emotions never leave you, and now it’s my turn, I thought. I still hear ladies who have beautiful long luxurious hair say, its only hair. My career was hair and never did, or will I, say its only hair. Until you walk in the shoes of a person that has lost their hair through baldness, alopecia, cancer or any other illness it’s hard to say its only hair. My hair has always been fine texture, but I’ve had nicer hair over the years and now its sick and lazy but everyday it’s improving. I will have nice hair again one day. Why am I telling you this? Maybe because I looked recently at a picture of myself and even though I don’t sit in the mirror and bad mouth myself anymore, but I still see a women that needs help to write a self-care plan again for myself and who once again have falling back into wanting to help others and has falling down on looking after themselves. So what will I do?
“A great life starts with an open mind” Put yourself on the calendar, learn self-care.
The same as I did when I began this journey, let myself know I am not perfect and it’s ok to fall down, and get back up, as many times needed as long as I get up, show up and be real to the world. It’s that time again to pull a book off my shelf that has helped me, and start reading it again for the third time. The Art of Extreme Self-Care by Cheryl Richardson. I love this book and one year later the book is back out again, my third time reading it but that’s ok, I will read this book seven times if I have too.
A Sentence in the book that has called out to me, was wrote by her coach, “and the truth is, Cherly the good girl role is going to rob you of your life”.
This Sentence is powerful because I was robbed of my life by choice, with no regrets. Its hard work getting it back, but one day, I want to share and tell people this sentence. My plan is to learn Self-Care, Self-love, Self-Acceptance and share with others my mission how I had to walk from everything I known to a different life, I was given a second chance and this time, I will not mess up. I like to think that I only stumbled into what is meant for me, and new doors will open for me and it may steer me in a different path, but I will face my fears and walk though those doors as they open. You never know what that door can bring, only endless opportunities. If I choose not to walk through the door, I just may have to take the long way or miss an opportunity. You too could change your life and live your true-self if your inner soul is screaming for something different. You just have to go after it with determination.
Back to Self-Care it’s so much more than an odd walk, yoga class, beautiful bath, nice dinner, etc. It can be exhausting to keep up with it, but if we schedule self-care it’s setting ourselves up for success in all areas of your life. Are you worth putting yourself on your calendar?
I began almost two years ago with daily habits, I consistently created new habits and worked on them in 21day periods of time. They worked and I saw the changes and others did too, but I have no idea what happened, but I stopped doing them. Why? Because they worked, I felt great, so I stopped focusing and I fell into my bad habits again. The bad habits has got me here, but it’s ok because the best thing is, we can start again and it’s ok. Falling down is one of the greatest life lessons, the awareness that we can get back up, keep going towards our dreams, desires and joys.
My favorite saying, “A great life starts with an open mind” and I sure believe this.
So put away the, I can’t and replace them with I can’s. I’ve done it and you can to. People ask me, how I did it? How I walked from my career, business, and the clients that I loved? Do you want to know my secret?
When I left, I knew I was sick, sicker than I believed, but I had weight lift off my shoulders because there were a whole lot of people, that at that moment, I never had to say yes to. I learned that saying no is healthy, saying yes to yourself is healthy. I mostly learned to look after me. Making Yoga a priority, learning to be smarter and reversing all the disappointments that I had to heal myself. Am I cured some would ask? Have I got it all figured out? Can I honestly tell you I love myself? No, I cannot because it’s a journey I’m on, but I will tell you, I am smarter, more confident, and I’m loving life. I am aware now what is important in my life, and that is me. My journey and the gift of a second chance that I am so grateful for. This gift I will pass forward to you someday, the belief and light that you are worthy of space on your own calendar. Give yourself time and hang a Calendar to remind yourself, that you’re worth it, it’s only three percent of your day.
Please write in the comments. Let me know your thoughts. will you put yourself on your calendar?
Angela