It’s Sunday, and in the US, it’s Mother’s Day. My mother has been gone for six years now and my grown children live far away. I started the day asking: How might I extend ‘mother care’ to myself today?
I invite you to share your ideas and experiences with giving to yourself, with allowing yourself to have what you need. How do you tend to your own beautiful heart?
I will share my own thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear yours.
I have given my presence to plants today — giving itty bitty starts bigger pots, preparing soil for the next batch of seeds, offering a close eye to the food in the beginning stages of growth and listening with what they need. I've shaken steeping tinctures and steeping oils, made nourishing tea, and admired the fresh growth on all the trees that are just now emerging from our long winter. All of this feeds my heart in a deeply WHOLE way. Mothering Earth Beings as they infinitely Mother me.
I truly believe the plants sense this - they know how much we care. What a blessing you offer even as you receive nourishment from them. Thank you for this beautiful reflection.
For me, in the past, this kind of Q could easily become fraught with resentment. Why should I have to tend to myself. Today, it's easier. There were things that I wanted ‘right now’ - a bit of last night’s beef stew for lunch, a taste of sweet. (I whipped 1 T of raw coconut oil with a wee bit of honey and yum!) I walked outside and listened to the world come to life. I read and ranged around the house and garden. And doing these little things, I was able to hear the echo of some bigger things I wanted. A daily practice that supports my vision of a ‘good life, well lived’, more engagement with friends and family and travel - always travel. In all of these ways, I tended my heart today. Eager to hear about you.
Funny you mentioned resentment... that’s exactly how I’ve felt today. I worked, which wasn’t a big deal as I often work on Sundays, however I had requested the day off (didn’t get it) again, no big deal as I had no special plans. But then coming home after work to cleaning, chores, and cooking is where the resentment started. I thank you for the reminder to remember what I really want and to continue moving towards that.
You're reminding me of another thing I learned today: I'm responsible for what I receive - even from others. I saw how often I 'wait' for someone else to show up for me - often without telling them what I'm waiting for. Weird, no? I just expect them to know and then I'm annoyed when they don't know. This is an old pattern for me - and I think it's returning, yet again, to remind me how important steady and consistent gentleness with myself is, along with practice, when I am changing a habit.
I sent all of my 6 children a picture of myself and them with this saying, "If I know what love is, it's because of you.~~Hermann Hesse. I made some flower arrangements from the Roses in the yard and took them to the neighbors. It another wonderful day!!
I love this. Thank you for sharing it with us. So often I've 'waited' for others to notice me - and missed many opportunities to notice them. Love the idea of bringing flowers to the neighbors. Gonna copy that one.
I have given my presence to plants today — giving itty bitty starts bigger pots, preparing soil for the next batch of seeds, offering a close eye to the food in the beginning stages of growth and listening with what they need. I've shaken steeping tinctures and steeping oils, made nourishing tea, and admired the fresh growth on all the trees that are just now emerging from our long winter. All of this feeds my heart in a deeply WHOLE way. Mothering Earth Beings as they infinitely Mother me.
I truly believe the plants sense this - they know how much we care. What a blessing you offer even as you receive nourishment from them. Thank you for this beautiful reflection.
For me, in the past, this kind of Q could easily become fraught with resentment. Why should I have to tend to myself. Today, it's easier. There were things that I wanted ‘right now’ - a bit of last night’s beef stew for lunch, a taste of sweet. (I whipped 1 T of raw coconut oil with a wee bit of honey and yum!) I walked outside and listened to the world come to life. I read and ranged around the house and garden. And doing these little things, I was able to hear the echo of some bigger things I wanted. A daily practice that supports my vision of a ‘good life, well lived’, more engagement with friends and family and travel - always travel. In all of these ways, I tended my heart today. Eager to hear about you.
Funny you mentioned resentment... that’s exactly how I’ve felt today. I worked, which wasn’t a big deal as I often work on Sundays, however I had requested the day off (didn’t get it) again, no big deal as I had no special plans. But then coming home after work to cleaning, chores, and cooking is where the resentment started. I thank you for the reminder to remember what I really want and to continue moving towards that.
Yes yes yes! What an interesting realization, no?
You're reminding me of another thing I learned today: I'm responsible for what I receive - even from others. I saw how often I 'wait' for someone else to show up for me - often without telling them what I'm waiting for. Weird, no? I just expect them to know and then I'm annoyed when they don't know. This is an old pattern for me - and I think it's returning, yet again, to remind me how important steady and consistent gentleness with myself is, along with practice, when I am changing a habit.
I sent all of my 6 children a picture of myself and them with this saying, "If I know what love is, it's because of you.~~Hermann Hesse. I made some flower arrangements from the Roses in the yard and took them to the neighbors. It another wonderful day!!
I love this. Thank you for sharing it with us. So often I've 'waited' for others to notice me - and missed many opportunities to notice them. Love the idea of bringing flowers to the neighbors. Gonna copy that one.