There was a time in my life that I couldn’t say no to anyone. Whenever someone asked me to do something I said yes, even to the detriment of my own health and life. It took me years to realize that by saying no to some people/ requests, I was enabling myself to be able to help them/ others in a greater way in the future.

I was on an airplane a few weeks ago  and the steward told us that in the event the oxygen masks fall from the ceiling, we are to put our mask on first. Then we could help children and the elderly.

“Isn’t that being selfish?” you ask. No, it is being responsible. We need to look after ourselves before we can help other people.

This subject of self-care goes deeper than just saying no and putting our mask on first. We need to show love to ourselves. We need to take the time to enjoy life. If we are all work, work, work, then our lives are unbalanced. We need to have some time for fun and play.

When is the last time you played? What does play look like for you? It could be a sport, like golf, tennis or baseball. It could be baking, coloring, painting, crocheting or going for a walk. It could be taking a romantic candle-lit bubble bath or snuggling up in front of a fire with a good book.

Take a few minutes and think about what would bring joy to your life. There is space in the comment section for you to share what play looks like for you.

For me, it is creating greeting cards. I love paper-crafting! I put on my favorite music and I get lost in a world with no worries, only the love I have for the person I’m making the card for.