loving yourself By a pandemic

loving yourself By a pandemic :I’d like to guess that this pandemic was bittersweet for most of us. The sheer gift of spending time at home balanced with the disorder of not being able to go and do.

The opportunity to pursue our hobbies was kind of crazy. The luxury of empty calendars in a cobweb of guilt.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I was incredibly concerned about how this would all affect my husband and children. I didn’t want my husband to feel claustrophobic from the sudden restrictions: no more office, no more basketball games in the gym, no more gym. I didn’t want the kids to be scared. So much changed and so quickly.

I got busy. I was all in. I imagined Rosie-the-Riveter from the famous WWII poster. “I have this” became my mantra.

I made maps and works of art out of construction paper to send to the front line workers. I’ve been shopping for older friends and neighbors. I made the bread. I’ve set up family game nights. I’ve sent care packages to family members.

Easily distracted by all of this self-constructed activity, I didn’t stop.

That said, I didn’t stop until after I finished a conference call on a rainy afternoon. I was sipping an Earl Gray with lemon as my little one climbed on the couch to cuddle for a minute.

“Mom, do you think Santa Claus can get COVID-19?” he asked as he nestled his head in my lap. “Well what do you think?” I asked.

“Probably not?” he asked. Before I could say anything else, his big brother intervened: “There is no way Santa Claus can get COVID-19, Buddy. Santa Claus is magic and memory and all the best. ”

loving yourself By a pandemic

I was appalled at how easily this wise answer fell from my teen’s lips. Comfort. Reassurance. Love. Full disclosure, fifteen minutes earlier, these two had just been caught up in what they called a “game fight,” which to me looked more like a WWE match.

Suddenly the thought occurred to me in a flash that this is how God must treat me.

I go to him so often, all in frustration, fear, even anger. I make a fuss and angry. And almost always he answers my wild tumbleweed of emotions with comfort, reassurance and love.

Suddenly I was crying. The effects of this whole weird, beautiful, nightmarish, fantastic pandemic have just spread. “What’s the matter, mom?” he sat up from my lap, worried.

“Nothing at all,” I assured him, “I think I just have to cry a little.”

It was then that I realized that it hadn’t taken me a hot second to think about how this had affected me. Not one. The husband and children got along wonderfully, but I was a little worse in carrying.

Photo by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay

I don’t know that many of us ever really stop and think about what we can do to love ourselves. However, God tells us that He wants us to do just that: Love ourselves. Be gentle with us. Let us have time and space to reflect. We find much evidence of God’s hope that we will actively love each other in the scriptures. Therefore, it is important to read Bible verses about loving.

loving yourself By a pandemic

So where do we start? I was deep in the pandemic before the idea of ​​self-care even occurred to me, but that has worked for me so far. Connected.

Carve something out! If we can’t find half an hour right now, I don’t know we’ll ever be able to. I also don’t mean squeezing in a ten minute hot shower. I mean actual, private time that is only sacred to you.

Maybe you go to bed a little earlier and at this point you don’t look at your phone or turn on the TV. Just sit down between the pillows. Take a deep breath. Confirm this is YOUR time. It’s okay. I mean, even Matthew had a prayer room!

I’ve always wanted to try yoga. But for 1000 excuses I never did it. So I downloaded an app that I love and took my time during the day to edit it. (I mean, I’m in yoga pants all day anyway.)

That one tiny change was a gateway to try other things. For example, I’ve always wanted to serve vegetarian dishes to my family. So I just did it. Didn’t even announce it. We just presented a hot meal – and WE ALL EAT IT. The end.

The idea of ​​nutrition has something to offer. Yoga and working in a few other vegetables have changed my mindset. I feel more centered and more controlled.

It is important to nourish my mind. Quiet moments. Hot tea. Favorite playlist on Spotify. All of these little things make a big, important difference.

I am kinder to myself. I listen to the quiet rooms. I lean on how I feel I love myself through God’s word and learn something new. Everyone. Single. Day.

About the author:

Blake McDaniel is the co-founder and owner of Rooted and Grounded. She conceived Rooted and Grounded with her husband in a transnational step. Now the company has grown, as has her family. Blake McDaniel values ​​love and faith, the foundation on which Rooted and Grounded was built. When Blake is not working, she continues to grow by reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her new baby, Erin.