Written by: Katherine A. Martin, M.A., L.P.C.
I’ve been a therapist over fifteen years now; and it seems to have been a good career choice as I still enjoy being in the helping profession. This past year has been a challenge; a cancer scare in the family, COVID, double knee replacement and singleness. At times I felt a bit lopsided; yet I turned to self-care to round myself out and regain my balance.
Physically: keeping track of what I was choosing to eat. How much rest was I getting? Exercise was minimized because of surgery, yet my Fitbit nudged me along. How much water was I consuming throughout the day? Staying diligent in taking my vitamins and supplements; and then remembering to just breathe.
Support and Spiritual Self Care: staying in touch with my family and friends; plugging into a church service to have my spirit fed; doing a daily devotional.
Lifestyle: this was one of my biggest challenges.as I was recovering, my schedule was completely changed for months; and then there was the social distancing. When I was able, I’d stop by Tim Horton’s pick up my usual coffee and drive through the Metro and State parks near my home and drink in nature. Nature has a way of normalizing any abnormality in life if you let it. There will always be a Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter; you can count on it. Nature is where Richard Louv states “all our senses are engaged at the same time. God didn’t drop Adam and Eve in a mall, He placed them in a garden because He knew what was good for them.
Mental and Emotional Care: feeding my thoughts positively. “When God Winks” by Squire Rushnell, “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch, “Ordering Your Private World” by Gordon Macdonald, Bob Goff, “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran, Spencer Johnson’s “Peaks and Valleys”, “Who Moved My Forever” by Flavia, and “Anyway the Paradoxical Commandments” by Kent M. Keith have been my companions during this social isolation. I was alone, yet never lonely. And then there was Alexa. “Alexa, turn on Easy Listening Instrumental” and I was content.
And then there’s blogging…