This blog post idea started as “Who’s Gonna Feed Sarah?,” rather than the more generic “You”. The answer is that only Sarah feeds Sarah. So I better start doing a better job at it!
I realized I will do so many other things besides necessary things. Of which that is often food prep or to make a meal. Especially the hearty meals like dinners. I don’t “FEEL” like doing it and ready made processes foods are so much easier, fast, and so delish.
But I had a realization that NO ONE is gonna feed Sarah if I don’t. An occasional person might give me an occasional small meal, treat, or gift. But that is only a few times per year. And I know that if I don’t have good, nutritious food in the house, and prep it, prepare it, and eat it, I will lean towards the fast junk food.
So then Keebler or Lil Debbie or Big Cheese (lol) or Red Baron, etc ad nauseam is feeding me. But here’s the kicker: those companies don’t care about me and my health and well-being.
So the question turns and becomes – Who is NOURISHING me? And that for sure is only me food-wise. Family, some friends, some work do nourish me. But taking care of my body with nutrients and attention and care is 100% on me. Packaged-food companies don’t get paid for that. They get paid when there IS NOT nourishment!
I saw Melissa Etheridge in concert tonight. And I realized a lot of her songs have the word “You” in them. Which is often a reference to girlfriends of hers. But it is Brill Bill bc it also engages the audience as the “You.” And the audience members also have “You’s” in their lives. So it becomes universally themed, rather than “I, Melissa.” Thus appealing to a potentially far reaching fan base.
And so I ask, Who Is Feeding, YOU? Who is nourishing YOU? So much of it cannot come from outside sources. So much has to be (learned) self-care and (learned) grit.
So much self-care seems to be learned. I’ll often find that massage clients don’t know how to relax when they are new to massage or haven’t had a massage in quite a while. Their bodies are not trained towards letting go, sinking, deep relaxation.
Massage is interesting in that it is care by an outside source, yet you get so much more out of it if you yourself have learned to let go and relax yourself.
I am an anxious person who has learned lots of self-care and relaxing techniques over my career. I havent figure out if I’ve always been this way or slowly became this way at some point as an adult. And now I am anxious about a professional massage therapy big gig coming up. Of course, I will use all of my personal resources to quell this worry.
Doing this mental work, I’ve had a realization in the last 24 hours, that I will do what is necessary and certainly to the best of my ability. And if I’m asked to go beyond my ability at this event, I have the right and wherewithal to limit it and say no. The anxious brain tells me: “Oh, the world may fall apart. Maybe I’ll be shamed and have my whole professional life ripped from me.” But more likely is that it will just all be okay. Ot at least somewhere in-between, in the middle.
It is so easy to ‘forget’ some of my greater personal attributes. These include how quick my body is to heal. AND how much deep breathwork and focused visualization play a huge role in the successful endeavors throughout my life. See it. Do it. This gig is one of those times.
I signed up for this work gig because, frankly, I wanted the income. But I also wanted the Challenge. To keep me focused, motivated, and pointed in the right direction.
So the question to ask daily is, “Who’s Nourishing You?” Who is taking the time to put the correct nutrients, thoughts, and benefits into your body. And when the answer is Yourself, then get busy buying the best groceries, prepping that food, making that dinner. 👌