Take Care of Yourself - It's the Law!

We put fuel in our vehicles.  We do regular maintenance, including oil changes, tire rotations, and tune ups.  We keep them clean and work hard to keep them in good running order.  And when they have problems, we fix them.  We take care of our inanimate objects, in large part because they do something for us and we don’t want the expense of replacing them.

We work multiple jobs, say yes to every request, clean the house, chauffer the kids, cook the food, volunteer for anything, tend to our spouses…then we break.  We become frazzled and frustrated.  We burn out and shut down or become angry.

Why do we take better care of THINGS than of this irreplaceable body God has given us?  I am going to give you something most people need but will never give themselves.  I give you PERMISSION.

I give you permission to say no.  I give you permission to have a date night.  I give you permission to need help and not be superman or superwoman.  I give you permission to take a nap.  I give you permission to go to bed before midnight.  I give you permission to exercise.  I give you permission to sit down with a good book for a few minutes, even if other things “need” to be done.

Most people have flown.  On every flight, there are preliminary instructions given.  One of them is “If you are traveling with a small child or someone needing assistance, put on your own oxygen mask first, then help them.” Every. Single. Flight. And yet, we do not take care of our mental and physical needs on a day to day basis.  I’m not saying neglect or shirk your responsibilities.

But what I am saying is this…figure out what matters and why.  Does your job matter because you couldn’t otherwise eat? Fine.  Do it well.  Does your job matter because you find personal fulfillment? Fine, commit wholly to it.  Does your job matter because someone told you it should but you hate it and the income doesn’t actually justify the strain it puts on you and your family? Walk away from it.   Instead of saying yes to every PTA committee and opportunity, say yes to the one that means something to you, that you feel you have something really great to offer.   Kid driving you crazy?  Okay, you can’t necessarily walk away from that.  But you can take a short break.  Find a drop-in daycare, friend, family member, spouse to give you an hour or three of a break.  Forget why you married your spouse? Don’t walk away…Remember.  Rekindle.  Kids sleep at some point.  Even if you’re broke…you can curl up for a couple of hours and listen to the radio or tell each other your favorite childhood movie.  Reconnect.

Prioritize.  And know that it is okay to take care of yourself.  Not only is it okay, it’s a Federal Regulation (when you’re flying, at least…)  So take a deep breath, remember that no one is an island, no one is invincible, and no one can be all things to all people.  Nor should they be.  Hey, even Superman had needs and struggles and weaknesses.  So fall on grace, even from yourself.  And remember – you are worth more than your car so take better care of yourself than your vehicle.