Mother's Day found me on my yoga mat because it just worked perfectly with my day's activities and my most favorite teacher was teaching. 

As we transitioned from rest to movement, our teacher asked us, "What do you need right now? No, what you WANT? Whatever that answer is, do it." She was referring to whether or not we stayed in rest or started movement. But it reminded me of something I work with a lot of women on. "What do YOU want?"

As mothers, as women, as employees, as daughters, partners, friends, community members, we get to used to doing what everyone else needs. We spread ourselves in the service of others so thinly that there is no room for even a slight recognition of what we are needing or wanting. That little voice that says, "I need rest, I need play, I need space, I need exercise, I need..." gets drowned out by all of the other obligations and duties that eventually, it stops talking to us. 

It's often that a mom does get an hour, an afternoon, a day to herself and she gets overwhelmed. I know I have been there. It's like a ping ball machine in my brain of all of the things I "should" do, thoughts of how do I maximize this time, how do I make sure I check all of the boxes ends up in a frenzy of thought. In the end, whatever I do end up choosing to do with this time leaves me with feeling like I picked the wrong thing, I didn't take advantage of the time, maybe I even wasted it. 

Does this resonate? 

What's the antidote? 

Checking in with ourselves. Letting that little voice get stronger. Honoring it. Recognizing that it is okay for us to have wants AND needs. That giving into those wants and needs are never selfish, are never a waste of time. Allowing ourselves to not maximize every minute and buy into the hustle culture is the most magnificent way we can go through this life. There is no finish line, the reward for a life well lived is in the here and now.  

My goal for myself this next year is to really lean into what I want. Small and big little rebellions of not going along to get along, but speaking and saying what I want and need to feel refreshed, restored and taken care of. 

I hope you'll join me. 

Best, SK