Sarah's CircleFriends are blessings that sustain our journeys. |
I'm not very good at self-care, I admit. Some things that relax me are getting a massage or soaking in a hot bathtub, but I usually feel guilty for "wasting time" that way. Reading a good book in the evening is also a good way to relax, and with very little guilt. I meditate and journal for 30-45 minutes each morning, and that's always a good way to start the day. I also walk pretty much daily--on the wooded trails near our home, if I can--and try to do Pilates twice a week. Those are all good things to do, but probably the best way to keep myself sane is to take on projects. I've rediscovered crochet and sewing this year and have made a lot of gifts for family: beanies, poncho, crocheted beach bag, sets of cotton table napkins, a craft bag, etc. The reason these are good for my sanity is because it distracts my mind from everyday cares. Doing something physical with my hands that also requires some thinking is the best strategy. On September 12, 2001, I bought paint and started painting our bedroom. It was better than watching the jet plow into the World Trade Center for the 311th time. The day after the election this week, I bought fabric and cut out the pieces for a tote bag that I'll sew over the next week or so, while I avoid the news. But probably the most extreme (and most successful) strategy I've used was to have eye surgery on Thursday (vitrectomy, to correct a macular pucker). Talk about getting your mind off the news! Surgery does the trick! Of course, there's only so much surgery a person can elect to have, but whatever. My tote bag will have to wait a few days until my vision improves and the eye patch comes off, but it gives me something to look forward to--and that's more than I can say about election news. --Janice
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
January 2022
To subscribe and receive notification of new posts, download a feed reader:
RSS Feed Reader then click the RSS Feed button above. |