What’s Your Recipe for Self-Care?
Self-care means many different things to various people. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, it wasn’t even a thing that was talked about, learned in health class, or found in books. It was perceived as something done for weight control not necessarily for healing.
To me it is the recipe of nurturing one’s self and it is unique to each person. It has been through the past seventeen years that I began noticing individual components yet not seeing them as a prescription for self-care just recognizing what felt good to my soul, body, and heart. Dancing and learning several different social dance styles in the early 2000s brings an immediate smile to my face. Dances such as west coast swing, salsa, cha cha, and night club two step fueled my love of partner movement and brought a level of free-flowing joy. It was the question and answer, the giving and receiving, or the ebb and flow of movement joined with the people. It opened the door to learning about trusting one another, supporting one another, and playing with the music.
Nature and hiking brings about a level of peace, joy and connection with the trail as one footstep follows another. For me doing new trails is the parallel to every new project – a level of challenge, unknown passageways, the opportunity for symbiotic relationship as what nature needs, we provide and likewise what we require nature gives. When I am called to do a new trail, I always know that an upcoming business or life opportunity is going to be akin to the path walked, the new understandings gleaned and the mastering of once again pushing myself out of a comfort zone. Along with the movement and symbiotic connection, there is the genuine components of presence and oneness felt on the trail in nature and the one in life.
The importance of hydrating with water a key component in both hiking, dancing, and all other activities. For myself that looks like four- to five quarts of water per day with 16-32 ounces drank in the last hour before bed, the same first thing in the morning, and the remaining throughout the day. This does not include coffee or tea which if done is followed by at least 16 ounces of water for rehydration purposes. What this means for my body is that on a two to three hour hike in the winter and early spring through mid to late April, I am drinking less water in the first two hours as I preloaded my body with this nourishing liquid. I do notice however around that two hour mark that I may start craving salty foods such as tortilla chips or cheese as my body is in need of sodium that is being release through sweat, so I take electrolyte packets to mix with my water and drink as needed. When we are at less than ten percent humidity in the spring and pre-monsoon weather, these nutrients are key to maintaining good self-nourishment. Along with this in the late February through early April, I tend to bring 75 ounces of water with me on a hike.
These are three of the ingredients on my recipe card for nourishing myself. Others include honoring my voice, my intuition, bringing in breathing practices, meditation or walking meditations, understanding where my emotions or thoughts are and what may be influencing them, as well as choosing nutritious foods that support my body knowing these may change based on what is occurring in my life or the season, we are in. What does your recipe card include?
