As I sit and type this blog, I am filled with sadness over the destruction that Hurricane Ian has caused in SWFL. This has been my home for five years now and to see such devastation cuts deep. I have family living here and friends who have become like family, so it hits differently when you hear of those who have suffered such loss. I love the hashtags for “Florida Strong”, and “We will rebuild”. I know as a community we will get through this and one day this will be a distant memory. So instead of talking about skincare this month, I thought I’d talk about self-care and how important it is right now in the aftermath of Ian. I say it so often, “Self-care isn’t selfish”, but how many people actually believe this?
I won’t lie to you, when I found out the spa had power, I felt a bit foolish calling to reschedule my clients who had been cancelled due to the storm. I seriously doubted anyone was worried about getting a facial considering the status quo. I couldn’t have been more wrong. They needed that sense of normalcy and that little bit of time just to relax and rejuvenate. In fact, I had a couple clients contact me and ask if we had power yet! It literally added another layer as to why I love what I do. If I can add some joy to someone’s life for just an hour, then I consider it a privilege.
So what does self-care look like for you? It could be anything. Some ideas may include mani’s and pedi’s, getting your hair done, or getting a massage. Your self-care could be going to the gym and working out or just taking a nice long bath where you shut the door to the outside world. You may want to take a walk and clear your thoughts or listen to music while you read a book. It could be checking in with a therapist or journaling your thoughts for the day. Whatever it is, please make sure you take the time for yourself.
When I was in the Air Force, we had trainings on resilience. Resilience is defined as how one “deals effectively with pressure, ambiguous and emerging conditions, and multiple tasks; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity or uncertainty. Recovers quickly from setbacks. Anticipates changes and learns from mistakes.
They had a model that consisted of four pillars:
- Mental: the ability to effectively cope with mental stressors and challenges. Pay attention to your needs and feelings.
- Physical: The ability to adopt and sustain healthy behaviors. Regularly work out and recognize the connection between mind and body.
- Social: The ability to network. Social connections with others widen perceptions and grow character.
- Spiritual: The ability to adhere to beliefs, principles, or values needed to persevere and prevail.
The idea is that if you take care of these four pillars, you are better able to cope with whatever life throws at you. Now is the time to take care of yourself so you can take care of your loved ones. If you are feeling anxious and depressed, reach out to somebody. Please don’t bottle it up inside or isolate yourself. We are all in this together.
Much love,
Jennifer
