Guiltless Pleasures

Hi, Dear Readers.

Its time to clip my nails. Judging the number of times I've retyped this sentence, a pep talk is in order. I planned on writing something else but perhaps, someone needs to hear about the concept of taking care of you.

I have few guilty pleasures and no, clipping nails isn't one of them. Specifically, I have exactly zero guilty pleasures because nothing accomplished in a healthy way causes me to feel regret. Unless it's using the word "pleasure". I feel The Ick when I say that word. Not because of meaning but because it should be banned from the English language along with words like "moist" and "penal colony".  But I digress...

I've never subscribed to the ideal that a luxury, hobby, or a soul-feeding activity should make me feel guilty. Chocolate? No. Not speaking of food as a whole and carbs in general. Feeding your soul is more than daily caloric intake.

Everyone should have something that feeds their soul. This is especially true for parents. Nothing is as rewarding as children. Nothing is as draining either. I know, because I am a parent of four adult children. We didn't get here without situations that built my character and inadvertently theirs. I also made Me Time. 

Reading, hiking, a daily coffee with a friend, the gym, or a continuously clean house. Self-care is the catalyst to being at your personal best to be healthy and able to give back. If the last year and a half taught us anything, it taught us what is important. To enjoy life to the fullest, hold close those who you care about and love, and not feel guilty about taking care of you. Feeling guilty implies you have bad or unhealthy motives. Taking care of you is far from unhealthy.

My non-guilty pleasures? I get my nails done. As a former compulsive nail biter, this was a Good Thing. Makes me feel feminine and put together.

A glass of wine or a small nightcap. 

When I went to an office, I used to do my daily Starbucks run. Now I buy compostable coffee pods. I have my coffee at home while saving my pocketbook and the planet. 

Reading. I'm a fiction reader. Sometimes, I'll throw in science writing, a rare biography, or cookbooks. My To-Be-Read pile is forever growing. I read to escape. Calms my brain.

 I swim and go to the gym. Endorphins and stress relief.

Morning coffee, mixed with protein and vitamin shake. I'm not a big breakfast person, aside from eating out. This helps get me going.

Plants. I own several....dozen.... plus. I find great joy in not killing my Boston fern, climbing roses, snake plant, hoya, clematis, flowers, and pothos plants.  I also have a nice herb garden, if I say so myself. 

No guilt. Just self-care. However that looks to you. Just do it.

~Bee says take care of you.

Listening to whatever musical my daughter has playing.