Self Care, FINALLY!
I’m aging. I can’t help it. I’m getting older and I’m doing old people things. I paid my first dues to AARP. I put on 3 pounds that I can’t get rid of. I have aches and pains and all kinds of minor- but annoying – age related maladies. I can barely make it to 10 pm sometimes – I fall asleep on the couch. I see my reflection suddenly somewhere and I’m shocked at how old I look. I can’t wear certain clothes anymore – they look ridiculous cuz I’m too old!
I consider the alternative… and keep plugging away. I think of Jack LaLane and find hope. I work out more, eat better. I do everything I’m supposed to do. I go visit awfulplasticsurgery.com and look at what happens to people who refuse to age. There is a whole army of women out there who look like replicants- (see Blade Runner.)
When I get tired and think what the heck am I doing trying to change the world at my age I think of this Irish woman I met in Nairobi. She was 69 and retiring from her non profit job to move to Kibera and live there with her husband to help raise and support orphans.
Kibera is Africa’s biggest slum (see Constant Gardener) and she’s going to move there… with her husband. This old white granny woman… totally fierce. I think she took the orphan situation personally. The fight in her was tremendous – everything about her said “I won’t back down.” Hasn’t she ever heard of menopause?
So I take my hormone supplements, exercise and eat right. But as you can see from my last blog that just wasn’t enough. I had to sloooooowwwww way down, work less, rest more, see friends, read and never work on weekends. In short, self care to the max.
And you know- it’s made all the difference in the world. When I work now I’m focused. I get help when I need to. I get up every work day, go into my office and do everything I can to build a sustainable, global self defense franchise for women. Step by step, piece by piece, me and my two consultants build the business.
Two weeks ago I saw a movie called Che starring Benicio del Toro. In the film a reporter asks Che what is the most important part of a revolution. I’m stunned when he says “Love.” He said you have to love the people you are fighting for.
How can you really, truly do that if you don’t love and care for yourself? I’ve been on both sides of this issue now. Doing service with self care and doing service without. What I’ve found is that my kindness towards myself runs beyond my own borders. There is more for my kids, my husband, my friends, my whole world.
I think I can write that section now.
