When I was going to college, my older brother and I shared an apartment. He still likes to put a big 'ole grin on his handsome face and tell his friends, "If I came home and my sister was cleaning, I went and hid in my room. It always meant she'd had a bad day. It wasn't safe to come out until she had finished."
I never put too much thought into this tendency of mine. I just brushed it off that things felt better when they were clean and organized. However, the other day I was scrolling Pinterest (because that is important ;) ) and I found this:
Okay, if you haven't read The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts, you need to buy, borrow, listen to it now. I'm not kidding. It is written by a Christian family counselor and it has helped me so much to love others better. You can also take the quiz here: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language and that will get you started.
However, I had never considered that those love languages could help me love myself better, too. And, wow, the "Acts of Service" section of the self-love image hit the nail on the head. I love planning, organizing, cleaning, etc. When I do those things, I feel relaxed and fulfilled. I didn't realize that it was self-love mostly because often if I tell people that those things are fun for me, they just think I'm a little loopy. I had to blog about this. I do believe we are supposed to be intentional about caring for ourselves. Goodness, even Jesus did things to refill such as eating with friends, going away to quiet places and praying, and spending time with children. What blew my mind, however, was that we are unique creatures and what is self-love for one person is simply a chore for someone else. So, go through this image and be intentional about loving yourself. What I love, is that so many of the things on this list are kind and healthy things to do PERIOD. Oh, God, please bless the kind person who created this and posted it on Pinterest. I think we are often unaware of the lives we touch with our commitment to share love and truth to others.
What feels like self-love to you?
2 Comments
Kyla Gray
2/9/2022 09:47:15 am
You know do a lot of the things on your self love list, I just never though about them as self love. I just do them to survive. I know when I'm on the verge and I do something to calm myself before I say or do something I will regret. thanks for this...it is a new way of looking at things. I do have to confess, when my kids were small I did not do these things and it would have helped a lot. I was older, kids gone, stressed to the max before I learned to say no and to do things for myself. Good advice, hope some of you young moms can do this now. I really encourage my daughter in love to take time for herself and keep the boys so she can have a little time for herself. k
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Lora
2/10/2022 05:04:35 am
That is such a precious reminder. Yes, it is hard to keep going as a young mom when you aren’t resting. Thank you for sharing, Kyla!
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