In many states the weather is starting to get warmer, flowers blooming, and more people are starting to vacation. After a long winter, Spring is a much-needed Self-Care for many people. Speaking for myself, I have not truly explored outside since 2020. COVID gave me anxiety about going out and around larger crowds that I became content at home (remember I'm an Introvert so home is happy place). However, something about this beautiful Spring sun here in sunny Florida has given me the energy to enjoy outdoors. I need to start moving about the cabin (airplane reference lol) and venture out into the world again.
“It’s Spring again. I can hear the birds sing again. See the flowers start to bud. See young people fall in Love.” – Lou Rawls
April is my birthday month so Spring Showers bring May flowers. Therefore, this month sets the tone for the rest of the Spring and Summer season for me. Therefore, I do my best to enjoy and plan the best birthday any girl would love. My birthday is the last day of the month and I end the month of April with a bang so I may bring in May the same way. Our birthday's is a celebration of life - no matter what real life has thrown you, I feel taking the one day out of the year to celebrate the day you were born is important. I Thank God every year for keeping me safe, healthy, and covering all my needs and some wants.
For the last two years, despite what the world was going through, I still managed to celebrate my birthday with a smile and with people who care and love me. This is important to me because I try to surround myself with those who truly care for the person I am and not who they think I should be in their life. People who understands me. Surrounding yourself with the right people also ensures your special day is kept special. LOL
I will say, the #1 take away for me during this entire experience of the pandemic is learning to take care of me, physically, mentally and spiritually. My mind, body and soul was lacking the nurturing it needed prior to 2020. I was neglecting myself and putting others before myself. This is something that many women experience. By nature, we want to love and support others and we often neglect ourselves in the process. Therefore, I started loving myself more, exercising, following my own lead and saying NO without feeling bad about it.
As an introvert I love enjoying small groups or being alone working or enjoying things that make me happy. One of them is just being outside in my back yard tending to my garden or sitting relaxing soaking up all the natural vitamin D I can absorb. No stress!! I found that prior to the shut down I was running doing 1000 things but not always doing things that made sense but was causing wear and tear on my body and my mind. When you sit back and truly realize the things you were doing especially the things for others, you realize you were just doing busy stuff. I now ensure that what I spend my time on is productive. It either makes me money, have the potential to make me money or is an activity that is self-care for myself and makes me happy. I took out the things I was doing that was not benefiting to me at all.
My advice to anyone but especially my strong women – Practice self-Love and Self-Care, keep in mind this is not just pampering your self with pedicures, manicures or massages (although these things are nice as well). I’m speaking of real self-love & Self-Care. Take care of your mental health as well. Carve time out of your business schedule to do something that you enjoy, even if you have to do it alone. Take some down time to enjoy things that make you smile inside and out helps ease that anxiety you may be feeling. Loving on you is much stronger for your mental health than others loving on you. Self-Love is powerful and everyone should ensure they’re taking the time to love themselves through any and everything.
Happy Spring to you!!!!!