Breathe Deeply

 Self-care opportunities are available every day, and it's up to us to make time for them. Examples include taking a lovely, deep bath after a long, hard day, filling out a journal describing what we are grateful for, and taking a few minutes in the day or evening to immerse ourselves in our thoughts peacefully. It's not easy, but necessary to help minimize stress in our daily lives. Of course, we have deadlines to meet. We want to satisfy others and potentially maintain our positions in life, but we can only keep going so far before the tires go flat. Life is a precious and short journey. The family and friends we don't always hear from or visit, or that place in Asia, Europe, or elsewhere that we have always wanted to see, all require us to take time for ourselves. The adage "time waits for no one" is so true. Putting off health concerns, for instance, isn't beneficial for anyone, especially for oneself and our loved ones. I created these poems to remind ourselves that we are important as well. But we must make time even when we seem overwhelmed by other events.

In my current journey, my mental health counselor provided me with a handout on how to deal with some of the anxieties that I was experiencing. It was practical as it involved deep breathing techniques and how it could quell a potential disaster with anxieties. I remembered maybe I could share this type of self-care with others. I've also incorporated other ways I enjoy what makes me feel good, like listening to music, specifically jazz, classical soul, and other beautiful music I recently discovered. Music is my go-to when I can hear it at night. Pray, meditate, cry, laugh, or do whatever brings instances of self-care to your situation or life. Everyone needs it. Your need for self-care is valid and understood. I hope you find something in common and realize that all you need to do is render self-care. And honestly act to help ourselves.