FIND WHAT MAKES YOUR HEART SING AND CREATE YOUR OWN MUSIC

MAC ANDERSON

I wanted to share with you a post I wrote a while back, in the spirit of Mother’s Day, and lovingly dedicate it to my mother (and super heroin), Diane Van Raes. This is one that I could benefit from reminding myself often.

I have a question for you: When was the last time you were exhausted, overwhelmed, stressed out or totally fried?

(Raise your hand if it was just the other day!)

I talk to women (and men) everyday who feel like they are simply juggling too many things, doing too much, or trying to please too many people. Somedays, I too am one of those women.

It's an epidemic of our time.

Most women (and men) have a very hard time carving out time for themselves: for downtime, for rest, for passion and play.

Mother's Day is a very interesting day for many of us. Some of us feel celebratory, some of us feel alone, some of us have lost our mothers, some of us have always wanted to become a mother. Some of us have lost a child.

While I could write to you about all the gestures you could fashion for your mother this year, or all the recipes you could prepare for Mother's Day brunch, I feel I would be glossing over the pain, grief and even exhaustion that many of us feel.

Here's what I am more curious about this year:

HOW DO YOU 'MOTHER' YOURSELF THROUGH IT ALL?

While most of us (whether we are mothers or not) tend to take care of everyone else first – our families, our pets, our jobs, our friends – are you willing to dedicate some time just for YOU this Mother's Day (even if it feels uncomfortable and a tad selfish)?

If you experience something challenging around Mother's Day, this is especially for you.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF?

Mothering ourselves can look like many, many things:

Taking a personal day
Saying "NO"
Taking long walks to smell the spring flowers
Getting body work done
Going on a retreat (Join Us HERE)
Napping
Getting your nails done
Asking for help
Forest bathing
Making your favorite food
Getting your house cleaned
Taking long aromatherapy baths
Buying fresh spring flowers for yourself
Drinking tea in a garden
Buying a new outfit
Going out on a girl's night
Creating art
Journaling
Meditation
Listening to your heart

...the list goes on.

Take a moment. Contemplate. Ask your heart and soul.

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR YOURSELF THIS MOTHER'S DAY? (DON'T BE SHY)

Just for fun I thought I would include my most favorite mother yourself meditation. This piece has touched me so deeply and brought me to tears over and over again these past 20 years or so. Today, I am excited to share it with you! (click below to listen)

With warmest spring wishes for you and yours...