Nourishment. Oh sweet sweet nourishment.
I call for you and ask for you to fill me with love, strength, and grace.
As a wife and mother I nourish my family through my love, connection, and dedication. I nourish my children’s needs for play, exploration, and learning. I nourish my family with healthy food. As a business owner I nourish my career with commitment and follow through so that I can be of service to those with which I work. But these are just my ROLES. They are NOT ME. Yes, they are a part of me, a part I dearly love; a part of me that helps fill my soul with joy every day. And, how do I nourish myself? How do we keep our cup full so that we can give to others without feeling depleted?
I invite you to join me in removing your capes. It’s ok! They will be safe and here for you to pick back up when you are ready. First, I am going to take off my wife cape. I love this cape; it is gold, green, and brown for the colors of our hand-fasting rope. Next, I will set aside, neatly on a hanger, my mother cape. This one is tie-dye. It’s great at camouflaging messes, creative and certainly colorful-exactly like my children. And now my businesswoman cape, this one looks a little different-it is my white hat. I will set it on top of my desk. Ah, finally my cape, not a cape at all, but purple adult sized fleece footie pajamas. They fit me perfectly. They are comfortable and warm-I'm going to put these on.
Now it’s your turn. Go ahead set aside the capes of the roles that you play and put on your SELF-CAPE. What does it look like? Does it have colors, textures, or patterns? It is anything that you want it to be.
Now that it is just us lovely God/desses here, lets fill our cups. We can do this by using what is already available; following the natural rhythms of nature is an ideal starting place.
For those in the Southern Hemisphere, you are moving from Winter to Spring. Soon your days will begin to grow warmer and new life will emerge. Spring is the time for rejuvenation and renewal; this is your Planting season, the season for reflecting on your year so far. What has worked and what needs to shift so that you can consciously create your life? It is from this place you can plant the seeds of your future.
For those in the Northern Hemisphere, as we say goodbye to Summer and embrace the change into Autumn we will notice that the temperatures are cooling down, the nights are growing longer, soon oranges, yellows, and reds will grace the horizon as the leaves change colors, even pumpkin spiced lattes are back at Starbucks.
It is the season of The Harvest, a time for reflection. Our seeds were planted, we tended them, watched them grow, and now the fruits of our labors are ripe for enjoyment.
The holidays are growing near for each of us and we will start to see a shift in people as the sense of giving and gratitude becomes more prominent.
During this holiday season I challenge you to make a date with yourself.
That might look like taking a walk in nature and connecting to the elements, it could be quiet meditation, receiving a massage, or brunch at your favorite café. It is about honoring you! And while you are on this date I invite you to harness the energy of the season, so that you can let all the hard work you have accomplished, all the rewards that you deserve, all the sweetness of your fruits fill your soul so that you can go back into your world with your cup full and running over with nourishment.
Know that your self-cape is not a role that you play; it is you. I invite you to give yourself the gift of you everyday, not just this holiday season. And if you did… What would become possible for your life?
What renews and nourishes me?
* I find nourishment when I get up before my husband and children and can get some ‘me time’.
* I find it driving through the mountains. I find it in the rain.
* I find nourishment in the small-quiet moments of the day.
* I find it when my children laugh.
* Nourishment is something that I look for because not only does it bring me joy it allows me to be grateful.
To a Confident, Sexy, Love filled life!
Kimberly Lindsay, BA, CPCC, ORSCC, IBCLC
Mental Fitness Coach for Spiritual & Creative Moms:
Who are ready to ditch their saboteurs so they can show up
as the partner, parent, and person they want to be - getting back to self and back to roots.