Self Care -

Are taking good care of yourself? How?

Kindness is care I think. And when I’m kind in my head I am kind to myself and others. So I need to know what is going through my head and that requires presence. That is why sitting quietly matters. That is also why I write every morning. So that I know where I am at. Somedays a kind voice comes through, other days impatient one, or an angry voice falls on pages. Even my hand writing is telling; the impatience, anger or a kind, serene presence is reflected on it. To me, meditation and writing in the mornings are acts of self care.

I also take long baths. I fill up the tub, put on soft music, light the soy candles I made, pour in the bath salts I put together with flower petals. I use the soap I made, and smell all the fragrances subtly start filling up the room. The flower petals, subtle fragrances of lavender, orange, bergamot, the soothing candle light and the music relaxes me. At the end of this occasional ritual in the evening I feel uplifted, relaxed and I feel kindness all around me, and feel gratitude with every cell in my body.

I get a similar sense of gratitude when I’m making these things. When I mix the epsom salt, with Himalayan salt and add the flower petals (including lavender I collect from our yard) and the essential oils, when I combine the organic butters and oils and whip the body butter, I feel a sense of wellbeing. Preparing these items is self care for me. The kindness fills me up and pours into these things. I love making them. I love gifting them. I love to imagine that these items, however small, will bring some care and kindness into others…