Self-care to feed your soul

When last did you practice the ritual of self- care?

What does self-care mean to you?

To some is might be making time to meditate or do some yoga.  To others it could be taking time to be quiet and go deep within – finding their truth. 

However deep you choose to go, self-care is vital.  If you don’t fill your own cup then you cannot serve another – this is especially applicable to all the mothers reading this.  On an airplane they always tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first, otherwise you won’t be able to help your child.

Too often those with families feel that taking time for self is selfish.  But if you give away everything you have and empty your well, you will be running on empty.  This leads to anger, frustration, and even resentment with no one having a good time, and you being miserable.  Taking time for self-care, even if it is something as simple as a quiet candle-lit bubble-bath, can help you heal within. Through this practice, you renew yourself and truly serve those you love.self love 3969644 640

This year, create the ritual self-care during the holidaysMake it a time for feeding your soul, and loving yourself with the same care you would love another. 

Another part of self-care is figuring out what is important to you, finding your voice and making it heard.  No one can know what you need – only you can.   Communicate with your loved ones and help them understand what you need and why.  Then take time to practice self-care, giving your loved ones the same courtesy.

This way, as you go through the holidays, it becomes a time of joy. You are able to be in gratitude and truly appreciate those you love, because you feel nurtured.

What self-care practice will you create?  Share and let me know.

Be Well, Be Blessed

Santa

RUNNING THROUGH DARKNESS
MEMOIR OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

BY SANTA MOLINA-MARSHALL ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 3, 2022

This debut memoir chronicles a woman’s spiritual exploration and growth as she overcame a disturbing childhood and helped others heal.

Brought to America from the Dominican Republic as a youngster, Molina-Marshall should have led a happy life. Her father was a diligent worker, and his large family wanted for nothing. But the author recounts that her dad had a drinking problem and was a serial philanderer. Molina-Marshall’s long-suffering mother left him for a woman. Then it was all downhill for the bright, 12-year-old girl, who was shuttled between foster care and relatives. According to the author, she was sexually abused by the husband of one of her siblings. This resulted in Molina-Marshall becoming alienated and moody. By 15, she simply tried to survive. In her favor were grit and a restless intelligence. She quit school, rented a room, and found a factory job. Time went by, and for a while she was happily married. Yet when her husband left her, her life truly began. She turned to religion for answers but decided that blaming God for her woes was a cop-out. 

In this absorbing and moving memoir, Molina-Marshall’s vivid storytelling is fearless. She frankly discusses the truths she discovered and the indignities she suffered. These admissions are disclosed with a touch of resignation and plenty of bite. However painful, everything she experienced was a lesson, and she bravely realized that she was part of the problem: “The fear of being hurt, rejected, or abused often led to me feeling lonely and misunderstood. No one knew the agonizing pain I felt being trapped in my thoughts and anger. I was becoming my biggest threat.” 

The author skillfully recounts her intricate spiritual journey. To deal with her psychic wounds, she searched for an inspirational system. Her open-mindedness led her to the interfaith concept—cherry-picking from various religions and spiritual movements, yoga, and Indigenous beliefs as a way of finding peace. Along with her female partner, she built a therapy practice, making use of every spiritual element that aided her and others. The road was bumpy, and she found that women of color in same-sex relationships were not welcomed everywhere. To do good works—and finally live on her own terms—she effectively overcame bigotry.

An engrossing, cathartic account of empathy and success through determination and confidence.

Pub Date: May 3, 2022   |    ISBN: 978-0-578-38315-6  |   Page Count: 264    | Publisher: From Trauma to Triumph  |   Review Posted Online: June 13, 2022