I am a person who is allowed to feel and express their emotions. I am a person who is allowed to have an opinion and share it even if it conflicts with those of others. I am a person who is allowed to rest.
“Finally admitting I’m allowed to be human, too, era.” I was just discussing this with my therapist this morning! (And by “discussing”, I mean she had to repeatedly remind me of this truth 😅) A very timely essay for me--thank you so much! I’m looking forward to the future installments in this series 😊
To answer the prompt: I am a person that is allowed to not always give or be 100%.
Helen, you are allowed to struggle just like any parent 💛 I also struggle with parenting (especially looking out at a whole summer home with the kids 🤪)
Love everything you have written here. I would answer I am a person who is allowed to just enjoy life ( inspired by my recent personal wrestling with the idea of being a human not a project)
This is great, Aly. I’m here for it. I have some more thoughts on this but am currently away from my notebook where said thoughts lie (lay? Some summer homework for you, Professor!). Also I want to answer your assignment but I just cannot function on phones. I hope I will remember to answer when I’m at my computer later.
I used to know the difference between lay/lie, but I will have to get back to you. I always default to meaning over accuracy and I understand what you mean, so 🙌🏽🤷🏻♀️
"I am a person who is allowed to sneak away and enjoy fiction."
(Also, "I am a person who is allowed to take Tylenol for a headache or to put on a show for my kids *before* I get desperate for a break." There is no medal for white-knuckling!)
Your post (I'm annoyed at this page--that despite being on my computer, I can't see both your post and my comment draft in the same screen) reminded me of some words I jotted down in a journal in 2021 (before my diagnosis) while doing a workbook on self-care (yours sounds awesome!):
"From this point on, I am embarking on this journey called life with self-love (not to be confused with self-care). This will be my foundation, the grace I show myself to not be perfect. to accept myself even when I am struggling. Self-love is a state of mind--not a set of actions (self-care), though it can lead to that--one that I choose and can choose again at any moment. I can start over, beginning again any moment on any day."
I love that distinction of self-love and self-care! There’s so much more compassion within self-love, and I didn’t realize that before this post and your beautiful phrasing of it. Thanks for sharing from your journal!
It’s almost like self-care is (or can be) another “should”, whereas self-love or self-compassion is a “could”. As in, I *could* choose in this moment to be kind to myself, to show myself the same grace I would offer a friend.
I am a person who is allowed to feel and express their emotions. I am a person who is allowed to have an opinion and share it even if it conflicts with those of others. I am a person who is allowed to rest.
Ooh, such good reminders! 🙌🏽
“Finally admitting I’m allowed to be human, too, era.” I was just discussing this with my therapist this morning! (And by “discussing”, I mean she had to repeatedly remind me of this truth 😅) A very timely essay for me--thank you so much! I’m looking forward to the future installments in this series 😊
To answer the prompt: I am a person that is allowed to not always give or be 100%.
I am a person that is allowed to struggle with parenting
Helen, you are allowed to struggle just like any parent 💛 I also struggle with parenting (especially looking out at a whole summer home with the kids 🤪)
Your kids look adorable, but I know they're work! Hope everyone gets into a good summer rhythm.
Yes to this journey! To answer the prompt:I am a person who is allowed to…not be consistent all the time.
Yay! I am working on being okay with being inconsistent, too. (I originally typed ‘embracing’ but I think that’s still a stretch!)
Love everything you have written here. I would answer I am a person who is allowed to just enjoy life ( inspired by my recent personal wrestling with the idea of being a human not a project)
“Not judging my feelings era” 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. Love this, and am excited to follow along this summer!
Thank you, friend!
So good friend! Taking this question to my journal.
Love it 💛 📓
This is great, Aly. I’m here for it. I have some more thoughts on this but am currently away from my notebook where said thoughts lie (lay? Some summer homework for you, Professor!). Also I want to answer your assignment but I just cannot function on phones. I hope I will remember to answer when I’m at my computer later.
I used to know the difference between lay/lie, but I will have to get back to you. I always default to meaning over accuracy and I understand what you mean, so 🙌🏽🤷🏻♀️
Okay, I'm back.
"I am a person who is allowed to sneak away and enjoy fiction."
(Also, "I am a person who is allowed to take Tylenol for a headache or to put on a show for my kids *before* I get desperate for a break." There is no medal for white-knuckling!)
Your post (I'm annoyed at this page--that despite being on my computer, I can't see both your post and my comment draft in the same screen) reminded me of some words I jotted down in a journal in 2021 (before my diagnosis) while doing a workbook on self-care (yours sounds awesome!):
"From this point on, I am embarking on this journey called life with self-love (not to be confused with self-care). This will be my foundation, the grace I show myself to not be perfect. to accept myself even when I am struggling. Self-love is a state of mind--not a set of actions (self-care), though it can lead to that--one that I choose and can choose again at any moment. I can start over, beginning again any moment on any day."
Love those affirmations! (I’m still figuring out Substack, too--it is annoying that you can’t see the post and the comments at the same time!)
I love your journal entry! The great thing about self-compassion is that we can choose it over and over even if we don’t FEEL it!
I love that distinction of self-love and self-care! There’s so much more compassion within self-love, and I didn’t realize that before this post and your beautiful phrasing of it. Thanks for sharing from your journal!
Thank you, Elizabeth! That’s so kind of you!
It’s almost like self-care is (or can be) another “should”, whereas self-love or self-compassion is a “could”. As in, I *could* choose in this moment to be kind to myself, to show myself the same grace I would offer a friend.
Yes, exactly! And “could” brings so much freedom ☺️