Be Good To Yourself

I write a lot about the environment, living ethically and sustainably, focusing on our purpose as well as doing the best we can for others. It’s rare that I write about things to do with fitness, drinking water or eating well. In fact that last time I wrote about it was back in early 2020 when I was looking at an Ethical Approach to Fitness. In our quest to achieve everything on our to-do list and power through each day making the most of each moment… we can neglect and lose ourselves. Not intentionally, but it happens; life takes over.

And so, I want to share a poem with you. I came across it while researching self-care activities that I wanted to use to help contribute to this post but when I read this poem, however I felt like this poem summed up what I was trying to say to you all succinctly. By being good to yourself, you can be the best version of yourself – the person that your loved ones can rely on, the person that lives their purpose, the person who excels in what they do because they choose to do their best.

Have a read – I’d love to hear your thoughts:

Be good to yourself—
You deserve it.

Take care of yourself
While you’re here.
No one else can do it
Better than you.

Hold yourself up.
Don’t be your worst enemy.
Nor a ‘self hater,’
Like some love to do.

Live and enjoy life.
Look in the mirror and smile.
Believe that good things
Will happen for you.

Be grateful that you were
A candidate for life.
And let such gratitude
Show.

Make the best choices for yourself.
Exercise. Rest.
And eat properly.
For on such things the body thrives.

Love yourself,
And then you can love others too.
Serenade you with a song.
Honor YOU with a poem.

And like an old friend that you
Would visit every now and then,
Take care of ‘yourself.’
For you shall not pass this way again.

Walterrean Salley

For me there are a couple of lines that really stand out:

Take care of ‘yourself.’
For you shall not pass this way again.

Life is finite and you have one life to lead. If you take care of yourself, you’ll have the opportunity to experience it to its fullest and you’ll leave this world with no regrets. What an incredible feeling that would be, knowing that when you close your eyes for that final time – you would have lived a full and wonderful life with no reason for regret.

Be grateful that you were
A candidate for life.
And let such gratitude
Show.

You got the chance to be here so be grateful that – how do you show your gratitude?

Anyway, I wanted to share it because it really sums up the importance of taking the time for yourself and focusing in on you and loving who you are. By doing so – it not only benefits you but those you love too..

If you want to see some great science backed ways to take care of yourself in the meantime, this is a great post: https://greatist.com/happiness/ways-to-practice-self-care