The Art of Showing Yourself Some Love
By Danielle K. Houck, Green Monkey Guest Blogger
If you are familiar with the output required to function and maintain contemporary life, you know the value of showing yourself some love. We can all use reminders and ideas; February is the perfect time to enjoy replenishing oneself, and to find more of what you enjoy.
What does it take to do more than merely function and maintain your life, to even thrive and feel bliss?
Consider time for yourself in which to grow, to replace your wellness “reserves.” Where would you like to go? Is there a 
favorite place you haven’t been in a while, because you have been “too busy”? Is there a new place you’ve been meaning to visit and explore? What’s stopping you?What do you need? Give yourself permission for it. Why not? If not now, when?
Plan to stop thinking about planning. Be. Put your favorite music on and enjoy. When do you feel at your best? Most energized, or relaxed? Why not give yourself more? Give yourself the gift of freedom, down time, rejuvenation time. Dr. Andrew Weil states, “Don′t be afraid to say "no" when someone asks you to do something. Learn your limits. You can′t do it all and you shouldn′t feel guilty about it.”
Be open to surprises. You might find yourself talking to a new friend while eating a quick lunch at your local Whole Foods. We can get stuck in our regular work circles and social circles; meeting new people can be a gift when you least expect it. Recently I crossed paths for the first time with a fellow Miamian, Ivette, and within moments we were laughing like old friends, and opening up unexpectedly… over lunch at cafeteria-style tables in a Whole Foods. Who knew?
Consider that less stuff means more time for loved ones and finding what is important. What can you clear out? Make room for your life. Let go. Recently my sister packed up a layer of the toys in her daughter’s room, and the five-year-old said, “I have paint?” Usually her mother’s shadow, she spent her first afternoon on her own, happily painting in her room with the newly discovered paints which had been there all along.
What are you reading? According to Dr. Alice Domar, executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health in Boston, MA, “women take care of everyone else, but not themselves.” Her best selling title, Self-Nurture, has a new follow-up: BE HAPPY WITHOUT BEING PERFECT: How to Break Free from the Perfection Deception. The book addresses “why women just won’t give themselves a break or give themselves permission to enjoy all of the good things in their lives.” I suggest it is time that we all should do just that.
Devotion, by Dani Shapiro, was released in January 2009. You can see her powerful and calm presence as she discusses her new book here. Inspiration and connection await you in her latest work.
February is a short month. Enjoy its days and enjoy each chance to make and revel in loving choices, especially for yourself.
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