It happened so naturally. Left bare, stripped to my very essence, releasing the shroud that hid my real self while I pretended to be happy. Divorce allowed me to stand unveiled and be proud of who I rediscovered. Being exposed is freeing.
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” ~ George Lucas
I have been neglecting myself lately. And my 24-hour period of sleep last week was a glaring reminder that I must slow down and begin to put my needs ahead of everyone else’s needs. I am still fending off the same cold that knocked me down last week and I am hoping after two consecutive days off that my body will begin to heal itself.
My physical condition withstanding, I have also realized how many things I have put on the back burner over the last few months. My blog posts have been suffering. My blog reading has been non-existent. And the things I love doing, like making soup or reading a book, have been put on a shelf and left to collect dust.
But today, that momentum has shifted. I am making myself a “vision board” so I can focus on the things I want to do for myself. I have sketched and decided on a design that I am going to have tattooed on my wrist. I have been thinking about it for a while but have finally given myself permission to take that leap.
The infinity symbol is a message of empowerment – anything is possible. Carpe Diem is, not only my email address but, my mantra – seize the day, something I have been failing to do recently. The butterfly represents my mother and the owl represents my father. It is a perfect blend of all the things that have the most power over the person I am each day and the person I want to continue being.
On day one of my two days off, I currently have two different pots of soup simmering on the stove, the ingredients for a killer Chili in the fridge and my fingers are flying over the keyboard as I type this post. I feel like I am finding myself again. I feel happy knowing I have begun to assimilate to the creature I enjoy being. And I feel the most elation by knowing that I have retrained my focus and begun to put myself first.