Treat Yourself Better!

I'm sharing a quote that my SparkFriend BELLACUDDLES put on her blog today. I think it's awesome AND a great way to kick off my goals for the week!

"If you want your life to come together, you have to start treating yourself better. Today make a list of 10 nice things YOU could do for yourself. Now select ONE and do it. You have nothing to lose from experimenting with self-nurturing and everything to gain." ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

Ten things, hmmm? Let's see:

1 - Get to bed on time
I cannot get over what a difference it's made in the last two weeks. Truly this is a give you can give to yourself every night (oh, that sounds naughty, LOL)!

2 - Curb the cocktails
I drank Friday night, woke up with a headache yesterday. I drank last night and woke up with a headache today. Is it really worth it? I've been working to rid the cocktails on the school nights. It may be that the next step is to lighten up on the weekends, too?

3 - Get moving every day
Even a few minutes makes a difference. I actually skipped coffee most of the mornings this week, as the workouts got me fired up and ready to face the day!

4 - Load up on fruits and vegetables
I walked to the Farmer's Market today and schlepped back a ton (well, maybe 10-15 pounds) of goodies. Here in the Midwest the apples and squash are outstanding. My countertop looks like a cornucopia spilled out!

5 - Relax
Moving is important, but so is downtime. I need to spend time writing in a journal, crafting or just letting myself unwind.

6 - Improve my attitude towards my body
Yes, the scale seems to veer north more times than I like, but it happens. I like that I'm strong (good for carrying vegetables, LOL) and tall and maybe I just need to lighten up about the parts that are "under construction." It took a while to get to this spot, after all.

7 - Recognize the things that make me happy
That list really is endless! My walk today was gorgeous, I was thrilled to see all the produce, and I'm laughing as I watch my husband and one of our cats playing together. That's three things without even trying!

8 - Let go of the negative crap
Like so many other harmful habits, harboring negativity is bad for me. Living with less stress is a goal, so it's time to dump the "stinkin' thinkin'!"

9 - Love those around me
Love is circular and perpetual; the more you give, the more you get. The people around me - yes, SparkFriends, that includes you - should know just how important they are to me. I love the support and you make the difference in my healthy life.

10 - Make every day count
I never want to face a day where I didn't make a difference. From the smallest gesture to the largest effort, everything matters. No sleep-walking or just going through the motions, thankyouverymuch. Be a part of what is happening!

The list was a bit tougher than I thought, but the exercise was very insightful. Thank you, BELLACUDDLES, for sharing that gift with me.