I was doing one of my weekly walks in the mall. I went around the first time pretty easily. Considering going around a second time, I had to consult with my body to see if it was okay to put this much pressure on it and go a second time.

Sometimes we do things and our bodies are not in agreement, and they give out or run out of energy. Pushing ourselves is a societal cliché that has no real impact unless we do a check-in.

I’m learning to love myself in ways that are tangible and effective. I get up in the morning and say to my body, “I love you, thank you for giving 100 percent of yourself to me today.”

It’s new for me and I can see how my body is responding to the gratitude and appreciation. But during this walk, I felt as if my body was going to give out if I took the second round. I started out and as I was walking, I was telling my body how grateful I am that you are allowing me to take the second round with your permission.

As I was walking the second round, many thoughts came to my head, one such thought was my mind telling me it didn’t want to take that second walk. See, I don’t like repetitiveness, especially in my thinking. But I realized all this time that I thought my body was not cooperating was actually my mind being obstinate and causing contention.

So needless to say, I completed the second round. I told my body thank you for allowing me the time and the space to take you on another round.

I learned this many years ago but recently in my expanded consciousness group with Coach Malachi, we have been practicing self-gratitude. Simultaneously in my weight loss group with The Veterans Administration, we are also practicing mindfulness and self-gratitude.

The two groups have never met nor have I shared or controlled the sessions in either group. I am the common denominator in both groups so I believe I am being inspired to take care of myself and the Universe is giving me all the evidence I need to know it’s okay!

Self-care, I have come to understand, is a journey, not a destination. It is a process of learning, unlearning, and relearning. It is about understanding your limits, listening to your body, and respecting it. It is about prioritizing yourself, not as a means of selfishness, but as a means of survival and well-being.

If my body is a temple, then my mind is the guardian of that temple. I need to ensure both are in harmony for a wholesome life experience. I realize that it’s not about being the fastest or the strongest, but about feeling good, being healthy and being at peace with myself.

As a part of my self-care routine, I have started to take time for myself. Whether it’s a walk in the mall, reading a book, practicing yoga, or simply sitting in silence and taking deep breaths, these small acts of self-care have started to make a big difference in my overall health and happiness.

I have also made a conscious effort to eat healthier, to sleep better, and to take breaks when I need to. I am learning to say no when I need to and to set boundaries for my own mental and physical wellbeing.

The journey of self-care is not always easy. There are days when I feel like giving up, days when I question if I am worthy of this care and love. But I remind myself that it’s okay to have those days. It’s okay to feel low. The important thing is to pick myself up and continue on my path.

Self-care is not just about physical health, it’s also about mental and emotional health. It’s about cultivating a positive mindset, about letting go of negativity, about practicing gratitude and mindfulness. It’s about recognizing and acknowledging my feelings, my strengths, my weaknesses, and my worth.

Self-care is indeed health care. It’s about taking care of every aspect of your health – physical, mental, and emotional. It’s about understanding that you are important, and that your health is a priority. It’s about making healthy choices every day, not because you have to, but because you want to. Because you love yourself enough to take care of yourself. Because self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity.