On Sunday, I was struggling with issues relating to my family’s needs versus my own personal and work-related needs. I found myself journaling about this yesterday morning. When I ended my journal entry, I was left with many unanswered questions and areas that required additional contemplation.
Yesterday afternoon, I held a Bubble Goddess spa experience for a hostess and some of her circle of friends. It turned out that a mother-daughter pair in attendance had both experienced breast cancer. The mother had breast cancer in 1998, the daughter in 2008. Both are doing well today. I also shared with everyone that I had breast cancer in 2007. We spoke about the importance of good nutrition, using safe personal care products and trying to minimize our exposure to estrogens in our environment. We also discussed some complimentary practices and treatments which are supportive of a healthy immune system.
The mother asked me if I’d had stress in years past and how I was dealing with the stress in my life today. This woman was able to get to the heart of the matter in no time and shared some very sage advice with me. Without knowing what she was doing, she provided me with answers to all the questions I’d left unanswered in my journal earlier in the day.
This was a very real experience of the saying, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” I had posed the questions in my journal, which meant I was ready to hear the answers. So, what better way to have the answers appear than through someone with a similar life experience who is further away from that experience and much more seasoned in living the lessons learned.
What was that sage advice she shared with me? At the core of her message, I heard loud and clear that I need to listen to my own inner voice–to my own needs and desires–first and foremost. Being able to say “no” to others’ demands or requests is imperative. Laughter, along with a great sense of humor, truly is the best medicine. Even if your work life takes a lot of time, it won’t feel like a struggle if you’re doing what you love and what you feel passionate about–it can actually be uplifting. Don’t do anything you know you don’t want to do. Listen to your inner voice. Listen within. Listen. Listen. And never feel guilty, ashamed or embarrassed for putting yourself and your own needs first. It is up to YOU to care for YOU!
I share this today as a way to hear myself expressing these new (and not so new) learnings. I also share it with any other students who are ready for the message. Namaste.
