Taking care of yourself is important. All too often self is the last or lower priority on the list of responsibilities. I’ve decided not to take time for granted. Reaching this era of my life requires a behavior shift. My pattern of taking care of my household members, scheduling and going to their appointments, even having a job where I went with my clients to their appointments has to change.
Our bodies have ways of letting us know our limits. The older I get the more limits my body gives me and my hearing is not always 100 percent. I get a burning sensation in my chest that makes me feel like I am going to have a stroke. This means I have internalized a portion greater than my stress capacity. This sensation is a new symptom of my stress since the passing of my son. It gets to a point that I feel I have to stop whatever I am doing and give myself time and grace.
It is my preference to share my experiences at times with others. You are not alone in what you feel or notice. Naming what is happening to you is paramount in addressing the feeling or symptom. Join me in prioritizing yourself and giving yourself grace, being patient and recognizing your human nature of mistakes will happen.
-Dr. K