Gracefully loving

​Being a massage therapist gives me a unique opportunity to talk to people. They open up about their pain and their frustration with that pain in a way that they don't with everyone else in their daily lives. More and more often, I find myself talking to people about giving themselves some grace. Grace has become my theme. 

"Grace? You mean like not running into walls and stuff?"

Not exactly! Giving yourself grace is letting yourself leave the dishes in the sink overnight because you are worn out from a busy day. Giving yourself grace is not pushing yourself to unpack every box from your recent move, even though you were also in a car accident. Giving yourself grace is saying no to some social invitations that are more draining than actual enjoyment. 

Put another way - Giving yourself grace is loving yourself! 

There is a lot of talk and a million memes and pretty images about self-care. Get a massage, meditate every day, eat vegetables…. And suddenly that self-care feels more and more like a long list of “shoulds” and less and less like loving yourself. Give yourself grace and start smaller.

Choose something simple today! Grab a sticky note and choose one of the  affirmations to the right to write on it (or find your own). Then post it on your bathroom mirror, your computer monitor, your steering wheel or get fancy and make it your wallpaper on your computer! Read it every time your eyes cross it. 

Embrace gracefully loving yourself and share that grace with others too. Sending love and grace to all of you!

                                                     ---Kristina

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