A few weeks ago, I was invited by my cousin to watch her two children perform in a play and gladly accepted.
I was so looking forward to it and in the morning of the event, I woke up and went to the gym then came back home to have my breakfast.
Soon after breakfast, I felt nauseas and then got physically sick, so I decided to lie down and have a rest.
When I woke up, I started to panic because I was counting down to the time of the play and although I knew that I wasn’t well enough to drive there, I didn’t want to disappoint my family and wanted to at least try.
I hesitated to inform my cousin because a part of me really wanted to go and I felt guilty for cancelling at the last minute, but in the end, I called her and she was very understanding.
After I cancelled, I felt immense relief that I didn’t have to get dressed and drive and I started to ask myself why it had taken me so long to cancel and just rest.
I realised that while i was feeling poorly, I wanted to go to the play because I didn’t want to disappoint my family.
It felt easier for me to go in the state I was in, than to pick up the phone and give an excuse.
I started reflecting on how much I take on because I don’t like to say no and instead end up overwhelmed with tasks that leave me exhausted and unhappy at times.
I realised that the people who do care about my well-being will understand if I can’t do something, so I don’t need to get myself into a panic when it comes to telling them so.
So many of us overstretch ourselves to cater for others and most times get no appreciation for it.
It is necessary to get into the habit of checking how full your cup is, as you can’t fill anyone else’s cup if yours has run dry.
You can do this by practising self-care and listening to your body. If you are constantly feeling tired you are probably running on empty.
You have to learn to put yourself first; contrary to popular belief, it is not selfish to do so.
Show yourself some love before you carry everyone else’s burdens. You can’t look after other people when you neglect yourself.
Tidy up your environment, eat well, sleep well and ensure you get plenty of rest.
You can pace yourself when it comes to doing tasks and have realistic to do lists
Machines need regular maintenance and servicing to ensure that they work properly, the mind and body are the same.
Make sure your cup is full before you pour into someone else’s.
