Today Shutter Sisters challenges you to ask the question: when was the last time you wrote a love letter to yourself? Or just generally spent a little time loving yourself?
For me, it only took a few extra minutes of me-time getting dressed. Some earrings and a moment spent on my hair. More than most days. A gentle reminder about what being beautiful means. It helped. It’s easier to give to them what they need when I have a store of reserves at the ready.
Does it sound like I’m complaining? I don’t mean to.
But you’re a mother. You know. It’s depleting. And it’s easy. Very easy. To forget to pay attention to yourself. I can’t remember the last time I had a physical. My asthma is out of control and I’m having trouble talking. I’m scraping the bottom of the energy barrel. I’ve forgotten the cardinal rule of mothering: if you’re out of the game, there’s no one there to pinch hit. Stretch and warm up before you play.
Time spent on me comes back as time to spend on them.
Love yourself a little today.
Well said!!!
Beautiful! One of the lessons taught to me years back from my best friend’s aunt was that –you need to love yourself to love others–so true, tough so easy to forget in the craziness of life.
thank you for this. It’s something I’m always trying to remember.
I love your pictures!
A lovely post Amy and some beautiful photos of you!
Now that is a picture of a ‘satisfied woman”. You look fantastic.
Thank your for sharing your pictures and thoughts. It’s a gentle reminder that beauty radiates from within.
Thanks for the reminder! Lovely to *see* you, too!
And take care of yourself, please.
Oh, sweet reminder it is to love thyself! I am just going to do just that in a moment.
btw, you look terrific.
All of it is so true – thanks for the reminder. I love your pictures – you look great!
You need to go get a dr appt stat, I might just call you tomorrow to see if you have
Beautiful photo and quote
People keep reminding me of the airplane analogy–put the oxygen mask on yourself first before you put one on your child–but I find it so hard! It seems like the wrong thing to do, to take care of myself first.
Yes, it’s amazing what a pair of earings can do..I no longer feel guilty leaving the house without the children, I come back feeling stronger, better able to manage the household. Deep daily breathing and some walking on the treadmill help me too, even if it is only for 20 mins. Call that dr. tomorrow and get a physical and call me about your asthma.. I have some wonderful essential oils I use that work really well! This past Fall I spent an overnight at the hospital with literally very little blood left in me, and that was the biggest wake up call of all! If you are not there for your own self, no else will do it for you! But still, I would not trade motherhood for anything, as humbling as it is..
Gorgeous gorgeous photographs! Do yourself a favor — go do your inhalers (I call them breathers) and then remember to “breathe” twice daily everyday.
beautiful, beautiful, beautiful – inside and out.
Lovely photos, worthy thoughts. i agree with Amy, I hope she will call you to make certain you schedule a physical. It’s so important to care for yourself. We owe it to the ones who love us. But you know that.
Just heard of the Shutter Sisters for the second time today. I’m going to check it out! Enjoying your beautiful photos as well!
when I left the hospital after having my first child the midwife said to me: “rule No 1: a happy mother means a happy child”
You’re right. Look after yourself, it’s not selfishness, it’s about filling up in order to give out more.
Thanks for reminding me.
Oh, okay then! You’ve convinced me.
Beautifully said..thank you for reminding us. I’m making an appointment with my treadmill today.
Boy, we all need that reminder, don’t we? One of the time (life?) management books I like talks about always keeping those self-care things in the same planning process as our appointments and meetings and commitments. Sometimes it is so tough to remember that those little (big?) things are as important as the day-to-day “to dos”.
You look lovely…heart-light shining through.
your photo is lovely, and your post, well said.
I’ve been meaning to make a dentist appointment for months. maybe today i’ll actually do it. thanks.
good reminder! thanks for sharing this lovely post. hugs!
That’s it: I’m not folding all that laundry tonight. I’m going to make myself a hot fudge sundae right now and tomorrow I am going out of the house without the kids for at least an hour!
It is nice to see you! Thank you.
How wise and beautiful you are. Thanks for sharing.
I wish I’d heard that advice years ago. But I don’t know that it would have helped. It’s too easy to push yourself aside, isn’t it?
I couldn’t agree more and yet it is so easy to forget in the every day life.
Wise words from a beautiful face!