There's no need to abandon our own self-care in order to care for others.
February 1, 2021
“Let one not neglect one's own welfare for the sake of another, however great. Clearly understanding one's own welfare, let one be intent upon the good.” - Buddha
Why do farmers work so hard to keep weeds out of their fields? Because if neglected, weeds will become overgrown, damaging the crops and decreasing the crop yield. At harvest time, there’ll be limited crops of a lesser quality. By routinely caring for their fields, farmers ensure abundant crops of the highest quality.
This applies to us, too. If we continually neglect our own well-being, we’ll have less to share - less patience, less compassion, less attention - and the little we’re able to give our families will be poorer in quality.
As moms, one of our defining characteristics is putting others’ needs before our own. There’s no need to abandon that crucial part of motherhood. We just need to make time, long or short, to routinely take care of ourselves so we and our families can reap the benefits.