Love is All There Is
Self-love, self-care, helps us to stand in our strength so we are in a healthy place to share with others
It’s a beautiful day, it feels like Spring is in the air, or at least it’s coming soon. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the energy is flowing. These are the days I love (don’t we all?). I began my morning with a swim, listened to a podcast, then did some of my online course. I often feel like there isn’t enough time in a day. There is so much to do, and so much enjoyment to be had. Don’t get me wrong, this is not busyness, this is passion. I realize that what I do is fun, meaningful for me, so it’s not work. I don’t feel tired, or frustrated, or overburdened, or unappreciated. I feel deeply connected to my soul, to my inner desires, to life. Some days it’s hard to find my mojo, to get going, but when I do, I become lost in that space of fulfillment, purpose and connection.
YouTube has become my best friend. I have learned so much. I have learned: how to self-publish, how to do graphic design, how to paint, how to live a natural life, and my latest, how to dehydrate food. All these subjects have connected me more and more to myself. I find I am slowly shedding the habits I have been conditioned by, and more purposefully selecting the areas I would like to develop. I realize what stirs my soul, what keeps me wanting to grow, and what pushes me to new heights. Thanks YouTube and all you fabulous creators!
As I said, I recently got a dehydrator. I have become something of a ‘prepper’. Preparing and storing food for emergencies. The dehydrator is fun and exciting, as well as practical. I have learned how to make my own green powder for smoothies, soups, sauces and well, everything! I have dehydrated: fruit, vegetables, and marshmallows. Next on my list is: tomatoes, mushrooms, pineapple and herbs. This new hobby has brought me back to my herbology roots, and soon I want to make my own creams, ointments and tinctures. Oh, this summer is going to be fun!
I have learned much from my newest hobby. I realized that chaos is often necessary to find organization and peace. That when you consider something ‘work’ then it is, but if you consider it ‘play’ it naturally becomes fun (of course fun music aids this feel). But the most important lesson I have learned is that by doing this for myself, it is an act of self-love, self-appreciation. I give to myself, nurture myself in the way I used to hope/wait/expect others to do. I placed my needs in the hands of others, thus placing my personal power outside of myself. But, by doing these small acts of self-care, I have empowered myself in a way I never experienced before. This is not selfish; this is key to feeling whole. The beauty is that even though I do this for myself, it enriches the lives of those around me. I have gifts to share, stories to tell, and ideas to inspire others. In our society we have been taught to put ourselves last and care for others first. This is wrong! Just like the oxygen masks in planes, we first need to ensure we have everything we need, then we give lovingly and openly with no regret, no martyrdom, no expectation, no neediness, no resentment. When we give to ourselves, we are whole, we are empowered. Then, when we give to others we stand in our strength and inspire others to live in their strength. Now please don’t get me wrong, I am not saying to be unkind and uncharitable to others. I am saying to take care of yourself, and your acts of charity will multiply.
How synchronistic that I am writing this blog on Valentine’s Day, and the main message is love, self-love. Our world needs more love. In fact, love is all there is. So Happy Valentine’s Day everyone; may you be love and share that with the world.