Make space.

Happy New Year! It’s been a few weeks.

My brain is on overdrive this week, starting a new job and getting the kids back to school after the holidays and a week of ice and snow. I’m finding it hard to focus on anything for very long without feeling pulled to do something else. Everything feels like a high priority.

But it’s not.

I made space today and opted to do a few things to take care of myself and my family. I opted to step out of crisis mode and try to breathe a bit deeper. And do you know what has happened so far today?

I have not breathed deeper. I have felt more stressed about taking the time for myself and my family. I have felt anxious and tetchy and blegh.

Hmmm. Sounds like an area that needs a bit more work (says the person who writes a blog about being your own best friend, ahem).

So if I were my own best friend (like really, really my own best friend), I would congratulate myself on taking time and making space. I would embrace feeling icky about it and work through it, not ignore it or push it aside. I would remind myself I am doing the best I can in this moment, similar to everyone else around me. And then move forward with the intention to embrace the time I have and do simply do better.

Ahhh, there it is, my first deep breath!