This is so true, I find it very hard to sit still and relax, rest and give myself some self loving! Why? Because that was the way we were brought up.
I’ve been struggling with cutting down my work hours/days and feeling guilty if I do take time off….but you are right. We need to give ourselves time to heal both physically and mentally- treat ourselves and doesn’t have to be in costly ways - simple things like baths, meditations, walks, reading a book, a bunch of flowers are all simple ways to treat ourselves. You’ve been to hell and back, our bodies have been butchered, so we deserve it-don’t feel guilty about it x💕
Lovely meditation on rest, Jane. Many of your thoughts on the subject echo mine. Eighteen months into my cancer journey, I am still playing tug of war with deep rest. I love it and I hate it. All the gremlins dance around me in the quiet moments, saying "You'll never rebuild your business," "You're isolated and alone," "Everyone but you is living life to its fullest." And, on the good days, I reply, "Fuck it. Rest feels good." I fill my bath with four cups of epsom salts, two tablespoons of coconut oil, and a few drops of tea tree oil. I sink my body into the salty stew, lay back my head, and sigh. All is well.
Well... let's see. I think I started adding it because coconut has antibacterial qualities and it makes my skin feel soft as a baby's bum. I also love the scent (and taste) of coconut. I also love all things tropical. So, yup, coconut is a key ingredient to activate my bliss. xoxo
Jane this is so bizarre! It’s like your book and articles have come into my life at just the right time. I love what you say about value and productivity! Weird isn’t it because no one you love only loves you for what you do! I have been hitting my cancer diagnosis t like the rest of life. As my friends say I have two settings on and on! Still weight lifting, still running a consulting division and raising four boys! Then I got covid during chemo and now I have pericarditis! So basically I can’t do anything. I am completely and utterly exhausted. But feel it was a lesson. Thank you for your words…..so comforting to read them 🥰
I hope you're giving yourself permission to rest now? Life has a way of forcing rest if we don't do it for ourselves, sounds like you just got told in no uncertain terms to stop 😂
Sending you loads of love for your recovery 🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹
I can’t even begin to tell you how much this resonates. I’m in remission now thankfully but haven’t learnt the lesson sadly-even my trainer tells me to slow down when I’m exercising! I don’t why I need to prove myself, I just can’t let it go…
This is my reality - sort off - with my first BC diagnosis in 2017 I didnt stop enough , didnt take it seriously enough , kept going and then the little devil came back in 2021. I’m now post treatment , I no longer have guilt spending time staring out the window or just being but feel that I’m still a ‘doer’ Real rest is hard . ITs hard to make the brain stop thinking about the next steps, I’m impatient and want to know what the future holds
However , Ive taken the winter off and moved to the mountains with the family .Ive held off going back to my work, grateful I can do this . I needed to get out of the walls that cocooned me during Chemo , out of the house where there is always something to do. I get out and ski if the weather is good and on days like today when its snowing I sit by the fire . I’m totally torn between the fact that this is an obscene luxury and I deserve it . thanks again Jane for your brilliant words
This is so true, I find it very hard to sit still and relax, rest and give myself some self loving! Why? Because that was the way we were brought up.
I’ve been struggling with cutting down my work hours/days and feeling guilty if I do take time off….but you are right. We need to give ourselves time to heal both physically and mentally- treat ourselves and doesn’t have to be in costly ways - simple things like baths, meditations, walks, reading a book, a bunch of flowers are all simple ways to treat ourselves. You’ve been to hell and back, our bodies have been butchered, so we deserve it-don’t feel guilty about it x💕
Yes! The bath is my favourite place at the moment :-) 💜
Lovely meditation on rest, Jane. Many of your thoughts on the subject echo mine. Eighteen months into my cancer journey, I am still playing tug of war with deep rest. I love it and I hate it. All the gremlins dance around me in the quiet moments, saying "You'll never rebuild your business," "You're isolated and alone," "Everyone but you is living life to its fullest." And, on the good days, I reply, "Fuck it. Rest feels good." I fill my bath with four cups of epsom salts, two tablespoons of coconut oil, and a few drops of tea tree oil. I sink my body into the salty stew, lay back my head, and sigh. All is well.
Your gremlins and mine say very similar things by the sounds of it 🤯
I do epsom salts and lavender most nights. What does the coconut oil add? I feel I might be missing a trick...
💜💜💜
Well... let's see. I think I started adding it because coconut has antibacterial qualities and it makes my skin feel soft as a baby's bum. I also love the scent (and taste) of coconut. I also love all things tropical. So, yup, coconut is a key ingredient to activate my bliss. xoxo
Ok I'll try that tonight then 😃
And also... yes....all is well, and all will be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
💜💜💜
Jane this is so bizarre! It’s like your book and articles have come into my life at just the right time. I love what you say about value and productivity! Weird isn’t it because no one you love only loves you for what you do! I have been hitting my cancer diagnosis t like the rest of life. As my friends say I have two settings on and on! Still weight lifting, still running a consulting division and raising four boys! Then I got covid during chemo and now I have pericarditis! So basically I can’t do anything. I am completely and utterly exhausted. But feel it was a lesson. Thank you for your words…..so comforting to read them 🥰
You sound like me Nicola - on and really on.
I hope you're giving yourself permission to rest now? Life has a way of forcing rest if we don't do it for ourselves, sounds like you just got told in no uncertain terms to stop 😂
Sending you loads of love for your recovery 🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹
I can’t even begin to tell you how much this resonates. I’m in remission now thankfully but haven’t learnt the lesson sadly-even my trainer tells me to slow down when I’m exercising! I don’t why I need to prove myself, I just can’t let it go…
Even your trainer!
I've had such a huge response to this one I'll write more about it next week and drill down into it a bit more. Maybe it'll help.
In the meantime you could ponder who you're trying to prove yourself to?
Thanks so much for writing, I LOVE hearing how my writings resonate with the women who read thank, really appreciate it 🌹
This is my reality - sort off - with my first BC diagnosis in 2017 I didnt stop enough , didnt take it seriously enough , kept going and then the little devil came back in 2021. I’m now post treatment , I no longer have guilt spending time staring out the window or just being but feel that I’m still a ‘doer’ Real rest is hard . ITs hard to make the brain stop thinking about the next steps, I’m impatient and want to know what the future holds
However , Ive taken the winter off and moved to the mountains with the family .Ive held off going back to my work, grateful I can do this . I needed to get out of the walls that cocooned me during Chemo , out of the house where there is always something to do. I get out and ski if the weather is good and on days like today when its snowing I sit by the fire . I’m totally torn between the fact that this is an obscene luxury and I deserve it . thanks again Jane for your brilliant words
Skiing or sitting by the fire sounds just wonderful. I hope it's the deep rest that you need. And you do deserve it 💜💜💜