Compassion – Nurturing – 1000VoicesSpeak.org
As I desperately reached out in compassion for others this past 10 days, I’ve neglected myself. I fueled my efforts with hypomanic energy, all the while sick with gastroenteritis and caring for an even sicker son. Poor baby gets gastro really bad (badly). So here I address compassion burnout, nurturing others while neglecting oneself.
This is great, Kitt– Bobbi Parish and Athena Moberg have been discussing self-care (and hygiene) with us this week.
It can be a little bit more difficult for abuse survivors sometimes, because some methods of care are tied into our circumstances and history of abuse. A few people in our chats said baths weren’t a good option because they were too connected to past abuse. We talked a lot about ways to take care of ourselves while getting around the traumatic parts.
Compassion burnout is a real thing; maybe you read what I had to say on that recently. I am so glad that my father is a week or so out of the hospital and healing; I was summoned to help care for him and that really WAS hard. I can also say that Cimmy has had plenty of burnout just looking after me and our son. It’s frustrating sometimes– a lot of my extended family is the unwell taking care of the more unwell.
Don’t I know that scenario. Had a couple of major meltdowns myself today – first to forcefully awaken my son and get him to school, later yelling at my husband and slamming the microwave door before going myself a time out to cool off. I’m at my wits end, at times.
I love the G-rated video! For a moment there I wondered if your hypomania had increased and you were about to treat us to a very special “show”! 😉 JUST KIDDING! (I know I shouldn’t joke about it, but you know that I can be a freak sometimes. Okay, okay, all the time!)
You’ve inspired me to take a bath soon!
I need to take a bath for my aching back and for my oodles of stress. I also plan to buy some Epsom salts. I have wonderful essential oils at the ready to use in a bath as well.
For his birthday, I bought Craig a fancy $16 bath pillow at CVS that’s made of special material that molds to you – I forget the high-tech name, but the girls accidentally immersed the pillow completely int water (which is a no-no, which seems dumb for a bath pillow, but whatever) and so the thing may be ruined. Boo.
Bad design if you can’t submerge it.
Love this! It is very easy to neglect yourself while caring for everyone else. I hope you had an amazing bath!
I did. Very luxurious.
Oh, I love, love your take on this months theme!
I could feel myself relaxing as I watched your feet wiggle, and listened to your self soothing – Fabulous post Kitt:)
Kimmie x
Thank you, Kimmie! XOXOXO <3 Hope all is well. In my thoughts and prayers.
Ah, Nurturing bath seems cool and relaxing! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Very relaxing. Much needed. Plus easier to shave my legs.
Haha! Exactly 😁
I should have added ‘taking a bath’ to my list. 🙂 Taking a bath is so relaxing.
Thank you for your comment in my blog.
Your list for self-care was great.
I’m very glad you’re taking a bath… And I am burning up with envy. I don’t have a bathtub. When I get over this drafted urinary tract infection, I think I’ll go camp at the Hot Springs for as long as I can afford to do so.
You really ought to take a bath at the end of every day. I think it’s a good way to stay grounded and besides, it feels….so….GOOD!
Bathing is so relaxing and grounding. I agree. Growing up I had a stand up shower and no bath. Now I really value our bathtub.
In fact, we converted a large shower into a deep soaking tub.
Don’t forget the Epsom Salt to relax those muscles!
Forgot those…