Wonderful Liz had asked me how I was doing in a previous post, and I realized that I haven’t at all made an effort to update my readers (all 3 of you! ha!) about how I’m personally doing in a long, long time. Yesterday, in yoga, the class was concentrated on the notion of taking time for yourself and “refilling” yourself up so that you have more of you to give to everyone who demands so much of you on a regular basis. I realize then, on a deeper level, that all week long, I just do everything that is needed of me to do. Most of it revolves around my home and my family, and especially my Lily Bean. I’m running around like a crazy woman doing chores, cleaning the house, researching cloth diapers (I think we finally found a solution!!), taking care of her besides just playing with her and talking with her, etc. etc. etc. And then on work days, I spend all this time taking care of other people — my clients who need me. Making phone calls to court houses, testifying against child molesters, consulting with social workers and lawyers and other therapists, etc. etc. etc. All to make sure that my clients get what they need. And by the end of the day, I am exhausted to the bone. I barely have time anymore to read before bed because I’m too exhausted to even pick up the book. And I miss reading.

So yesterday in yoga was something special because I really concentrated on just “being Helen.” Nothing to do except take care of my body and breathe into my sore muscles and veins. Nothing to do but deep, self gratitude. It was so needed because when I came back home, I was greeted with a smiling husband and a giggling baby, and I couldn’t be happier. I felt like suddenly I had more of myself to give because I took that time to take care of myself.

We always have to take care of ourselves. Outside of doing everything else, from looking up home insurance policies to filling out surveys and applications to doing the laundry, we just need to take a breather and sometimes do what WE want to do. For ourselves.