Amid Holiday Busyness, I Take Time for Self-Care
As the holiday season unfolds, the hustle and bustle can often feel overwhelming. During shopping, planning, and social obligations, it’s easy to lose sight of one’s own well-being. At Christmastime, in making a recent move back to the Seattle area, I realized how much I missed my family and friends. I take time for self-care.
My holiday preparations and plans for celebrations and fun activities placed unusual demands on my time in the past. This year, I’m focusing on my two sisters—one who just had a serious fall and damage to her knee and is in a rehabilitation center. I’ve become the caregiver for her dog, Buddy, so I miss her as much as I do. Reconnecting to living in proximity has been a real eye-opener for me. I usually come and visit over the holiday season.
This year I had to leave my husband who was to join me, in a private care facility in California, since he isn’t mobile with his Parkinson’s and Dementia progressing. As much as I want to participate and make the most of this special time of year, I also feel the need to step away and care for myself. I go within to realign my thoughts with my indwelling Soul nature. I breathe a sigh of relief, realizing that, through Source within, I will accomplish what needs to be done and still have time for fun and for family who are absent. I go within to realign my thoughts with my indwelling Soul nature. I breathe a sigh of relief, realizing that, through Source within, I will accomplish what needs to be done and still have time to care for my husband at a distance and for my sisters, who are so close to me.
Recognizing this, I carve out time for self-care, finding a quiet space to reconnect with my inner self. It is here, away from the distractions of the season, that I take a moment to realign my thoughts with my indwelling Soul nature. I focus on my breath, allowing a profound sense of relief to wash over me. Through this practice, I am reminded that I possess an innate Source within that empowers me to manage my responsibilities efficiently while still making space for joy and connection—to honor both the tasks at hand and the cherished memories of time spent with family, even when they are absent. Embracing self-care during the holidays not only enhances my resilience but also allows me to approach this special time with a renewed spirit, blending productivity with moments of lightheartedness.
There are things in life that just happen, we have no control over. I have spent so much time in California with my husband and his family that I have lacked the time to connect with mine in Washington. I feel at times that I have been abandoned by my children and grandchildren. I have always had an offering for them to come visit and made appearances around the holidays to connect. This year, out of choice I feel that my children and grandchildren have abandon me. They really don’t have much idea of my life and what I’ve been going through. I’ve kept my feeling harbored for years now. Self-Care is my Healing and recognizing where I really am at this moment and embrace the time I have left. Self-Love is a strong medicine.
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