Taking Time to Nurture Within

Most of us extend small kindnesses to others. But how many of us practice the same loving gestures when it comes to ourselves? Let’s talk about our gifts to ourselves.

How good a friend are you to yourself? Most of us are very good at celebrating our friendships with little gestures and gifts that say we care. But what do you give yourself that could qualify as a gift? A little self-indulgence is a healthy thing. That could mean buying yourself that new book (or eBook), treating yourself to dinner out (or having it delivered), or even hiring someone to wash and wax your car.

Now, if self-indulgence has been your life story, this probably doesn’t apply to you. And if, by giving yourself a gift, you will be irresponsibly depriving others, you probably don’t qualify, either. But most of us can give gifts to ourselves that don’t cost money at all.

For example: A little mid-day nap. Allowing yourself time to linger over a cup of coffee. Taking a quiet stroll after dinner, enjoying the evening air. Cutting a garden bouquet for your own enjoyment. Curling up on the couch for an hour or two with a great book. Taking the night off from your “to do” list, in order to relax in the silence.

Gifts like these are ways of being friendly to you. Of course, because we live in society and most of us find that we gain happiness from contribution, it’s crucial that we give to others, as well. But if you give only to others, you are denying your own need to receive. It truly is a gift when you allow someone else to give to you. Like most things in life, giving is a two-way street.

So, if you really want to nurture yourself, take a moment from time to time and ask, “How caring have I been to me today? Do I need a little ‘me time’ to recharge my personal batteries, in order to continue to thrive and provide to the world around me?” Taking time to nurture ourselves makes us stronger as we interact with our wider world.