I went for the most amazing massage just recently (thanks to my sister! <3).
The place was so beautiful!. The kind of place where you sit / lay there thinking of all the ways you can change around your house / bedroom / build a room / close off a wardrobe / anywhere! just to replicate the serenity. The candles, the lamps, the fluffy blankets over grand chairs, the music, smells, wow! The lady was so lovely and helped make me feel less awkward about not knowing what I was doing, I don't do this often clearly.
She massaged my back, neck and arms, even my feet! To which I apologised and said I had no idea she would be massaging my feet and, ummm, sorry about the state of them haha.
So as I am laying there renovating my house into a day spa in my mind, I am then ticking off what I have done, working out what I need to do, where I am going next and thinking of how insane the first week of school was that week. So this massage was just perfect timing and SHOULD be relaxing because you are in this gorgeous place, being pampered and your brain does. not. shut. off. Argh. Why is that?!
Then it got me thinking. All of the mums I work with say the same things about not having time for themselves, not prioritising themselves, and the guilt that comes along with this. That taking any time for themselves is selfish. That heading to the shops for groceries is seen as self care... How did we get here? To the point that self care or looking after your mental health is seen as a luxury that we should feel bad about?
It's funny because deep down we all know that we are better when we fill our own cups. When we aren't running on empty every day. We also know that doing groceries, having a shower or eating isn't really self care, that's survival.
So a challenge to us mums is to make self care and your mental health a priority! Book the appointment, do the meditation, renovate your wardrobe into a day spa (haha, I wish!), but take a step towards filling your cup. I challenge us to get to the point that we can lay down and enjoy a massage and relax without thinking of the 100 reasons why we really shouldn't be taking this time for ourselves. Telling ourselves that we aren't important, when in reality you know you are one of the main parts holding your family and household together. You are important and you deserve to take care of yourself as you take care of others.
<3
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