Speaking of the importance of Self-Care … and the importance of environment …
Do you have a self-care sanctuary?
Mine started out as an altar, of sorts. An altar is a “table top used to focus on a religious ritual” … (I was brought up Catholic… it still surfaces)
Now my sacred space is my closet.
There is a trend for special individual spaces… seen in Super Bowl commercials— The Man Cave and The She Shed
These are spaces set aside as a getaway for rest and relaxation.
Examples from the internet: “My Happy Place”, “Reading Room”, “Quiet Room”, “Unplugged Room” ….
These are all forms of self-care.
I like the idea of a sanctuary.
Sanctuary – a sacred space consecrated, or dedicated, devoted exclusively to a particular purpose.
The healthcare organizations affiliated with the Watson Caring Science Institute often create a space for nurses and others to retreat to during their work time. These are …
Self-Care Sanctuaries
These self-care sanctuaries are set up as a place to get a treat (cup of tea, water, etc), and where each nurse can sit or recline and renew their energy and caring intentions— A space to be mindful, to center, to meditate, to rest, to recharge the heart, mind, spirit, which will in turn recharge the body.
These are practices that take practice.
Creating a Self-Care Sanctuary at home helps us practice.
And it does so much more ….
By having a space set aside for self-care at home, we communicate to ourselves that self-care is important, that we are worthy and that the space is there for us when we are ready.
PLUS it signals to your family the same. There’s not a better gift to your children to signal the importance of self than to exhibit self-care.
Their respect and honor of you and themselves increases when you do the same for yourself.
Self-care is not a one-way street, it is a sacred circle in life.
Featured image: unsplashed.com, courtesy of Arno Smit.