Self Care – Selfish or Necessary?

I have noticed a trend lately on social media, in the media, in conversations with colleagues and friends, specifically about self care. Loads of people are posting about taking baths. When I was growing up, there was a commercial where the woman begged “calgon, take me away”. I didn’t get it at the time, then as a young mother juggling the demands of child, household, marriage, the idea of take me away started to make sense. Teenage years were even more crazy, baseball games, orchestra practice, golf, running (well driving) here and there, always moving. Crazy stuff. Occasionally I would sneak in a bath, make time for church, or crafting (definitely me time). Part time jobs, full time jobs, grocery shopping. Goodness who has time for self care?

Fast forward a few more years, empty nest, and back to school I went. Studying herbs, aromatherapy, yoga. Where were these tools when I was a frantic young mother? I issued a multitude of apologies for short tempered moments and how I could have handled whatever situation better. 

Here are some things I have learned.

1.) you cannot pour from an empty cup

2.) being able to stop, take a breath and center before answering whatever question, makes for a better outcome for everyone

3.) aromatherapy is a valuable tool, the scent molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain.

4.) grounding and mindfullness are tools everyone should have

5.) I do much better when I am practicing self care

Self care is necessary in our fast-paced, always available, plugged in world. Being able to take 15-20 minutes just to care for your body/mind/spirit is invaluable, daily. Practicing yoga, a short meditation, a walk with your dog, saying a prayer for a friend, being mindful and setting your intention for the day. Having a nighttime ritual of closing down for the night, turning off the lights, drinking your Melt Into Zzz’s. Taking a bath, and then adding in an aromatherapy component to the bath, just gives you sort of a double duty amazing experience. Sunday nights for me are bath nights. I plan them. I make a ritual of it. Oils in the diffuser, using only the light from the diffuser in the bathroom for a soothing atmosphere, fresh towels and fresh jammies, fresh sheets when I get to bed. Good to go. Not gonna lie, some weeks I feel the need for more than one bath, but Sunday nights without fail, I take a bath. 

We use epsom salts in our bath blends to help with the physical body, muscle aches and pains. The baking soda is for the emotional non-sense we drag around with us. The various herbs and essential oils used in each blend are very purposeful. The bath salts have been an amazing collaboration with my long time friend/college/fellow herbal student Madelyne Allen. Stay tuned for even more new products … there are four bath blends currently, we should have them live on the website by next week, because they are handcrafted, hand blended amazing bath salts!!