Do Things That are Good for YOU!

When I left the ministry and the church in 2010, I knew one of my biggest projects was going to be on learning how to take care of myself.

Christianity can make all kinds of demands on us: turn the other cheek; serve; sacrifice yourself for the sake of others; don’t be selfish; give until it hurts; etcetera.

I was really good at it. So much so that when I did leave the ministry I was literally bankrupt, poor, burnt out, empty, and lonely.

Now, eight years later, I can affirm that the more I take care of myself, the better a person I am and the better a contributing social being I am. Period!

I will give you an example of my self-care by sharing with you my morning routine:

First thing I do when I get up in the morning is to sit in my favorite place in our living room overlooking

the river. I read contemplative material. I read Rumi, or some other poetry, or Merton, or right now Parker Palmer’s new book, “On the Brink of Everything”. I meditate for a while on this. I write my emotional movements and thoughts in my Moleskin journal. Then, I turn on my music. Always Spotify. My favorite playlist right now is one I created, “Moodancholy”. Then I boil the kettle to make some premium coffee with my adored AeroPress coffee maker. The beans I’m using right now are from Tanzania. Mmmmmm. Then I let my Westie out to go to the bathroom. Once all this is done I check emails and all my social platforms, especially TLS FB. Then, I get to drawing my daily cartoon.

It’s a lovely way to start the day.

So selfish.

So wonderful.

So good for me.

And as a result so good for you.

Much love,

David