Just breathe

Hello again!

I am officially back from my vacation.  Before I left I mentioned going to find inspiration.  Well, I managed to find it in the most unexpected place.  While I was certainly entranced by the palm tree lined roads, beaches, and beautiful city the most profound bit of inspiration came to me in a chiropractor’s office.  I did not go in looking for inspiration, simply relief from an unexpected back injury.

I immediately felt a connection with my own work and the healing work being done at this office.  There was a blending of healing and Spirit.  The office space was Zen-like with original artwork on the walls, water fountains trickling, soft music playing and a Koi pond outside the main office window.  It was peaceful and relaxing.

Upon meeting the doctor, he explained that the main cause of all injury and illness is stress.  Physical, emotional or chemical stress leads to tension in the body which eventually leads to physical dis-ease.  The cure then is to reduce the stress in our lives.  Some suggested activities include meditation, journaling, walking, Yoga and apparently visiting this chiropractor’s office.   Along with this advice, he handed me an article that had such a strong impact on me at the time that I almost cried.  I’d like to share some of it with you.

Daily Self-Care, Putting Yourself First

“We have all heard the instructions of an airline attendant reminding us to put on our own oxygen mask before we help anyone else with theirs.  This advice is often cited as a metaphor for self-care because it so accurately expresses why it is important.  It seems to say, ironically that if you can’t take care of yourself for yourself, do it for others.  Few situations in our daily lives mimic the wake-up call of an airplace emergency, so it’s easy to keep putting self-care off, that is, until we get sick, overwhelmed, or exhaused, and suddenly don’t have the energy to care for the people who count on us.  That’s when we realize we haven’t been getting the oxygen we need to sustain ourselves.  We begin to understand that taking care of ourselves is neither selfish nor indulgent; it’s just plain practical and necessary for thriving in life. …

Take some actions where you put yourself first every day and it will pay off ten-fold for you and the ones you love.  The oxygen you need is all around you; sometimes you just need to be reminded to take care of yourself and just breathe…” -Good Vibrations Chiropractic, San Diego, CA.

Ah, the irony of life.  I have built my business with the desire of showing you the importance of taking care of yourself.  I have shown you how to relieve stress and find your Spiritual center through art, creative journaling and meditation.

Then I went on vacation and forgot to practice my own teaching.  And so, I have been given the opportunity to experience the pain that comes when we do not put ourselves first.  Yay, opportunity!  Let me just tell you, based on my first hand knowledge, that it is MUCH easier, Much less expensive, Much less painful and Much more fun to do the art, the journaling and the meditation than it is to let the stress build until it finally knocks you down.

I’ve been spending my days lying down, meditating, journaling, doing Reiki, reading uplifting spiritual books and watching dance flicks (not sure why, but I’m drawn to them lately).  I am grateful that my healing is progressing rather quickly considering the state I was in last week.  I am still taking all things very slowly.  You may even notice me away from the computer and this blog as I allow myself to fully relax and get realigned.   Mind, Body and Soul.

I hope that you will do the same.  Whether your outlet is art, journaling, going for a walk or simply taking a few minutes to simply BE it is important for you to make that time for yourself.   Just breathe…

Love & Blessings,

Jeniffer