Confession: I’m the worst at pausing to take time out for myself! I always think I don’t have time or that I’m wasting time taking a break. You know, that internal voice that says, “But if I stop now, I’ll never get it all done!” I love to love others, but get stingy when it comes to myself. I’m sure many of you can relate. The world keeps spinning, the to-do list keeps growing, and somehow, I’m supposed to just… breathe?
I’ll admit, I needed a good smack from a friend to remind me to practice what I preach. She looked me dead in the eyes (as only a friend who truly cares can) and said, “You’re doing all this for everyone else, but who’s taking care of you?” There it was. The reminder I didn’t know I needed. The truth was simple: I was running on fumes, giving my all to everyone else, and had forgotten the most important thing—I was part of that “everyone else” too.
Here’s the thing: self-care is not selfish. It’s essential. And not just in some vague “yeah, I should do that” way. It’s the foundation of everything. You can’t pour from an empty cup, right? So if I’m giving everything I’ve got to my family, my friends, my work, and every person who crosses my path, I need to replenish my energy, too. If I don’t, I start to crack. And when I crack, everyone around me feels it. And let’s be honest, no one’s got time for a cracked version of me—least of all me!
The truth is, self-care is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. It’s like that deep, soul-satisfying breath that you finally take after holding it in for too long. That pause, that moment to simply be. Because when you truly stop to care for yourself, you recharge, you refresh, and you return stronger, more present, and more vibrant.
For me, self-care has turned into these precious little pockets of time throughout my day — deep breaths between meetings, a few minutes of stillness in the morning, a walk to ground myself. It’s the small things that, over time, have a massive impact. I started to realize that if I wasn’t taking care of myself, I couldn’t give the best of me to anyone else.
So, I see you. I feel you. I am you! If you’re constantly pushing yourself to the limit, remember that you’re worthy of rest, too. You are worth taking a moment for. And trust me, you’ll be so much better for it. One breath at a time, my friend. Just one breath at a time.
Picture this: a fresh-faced student in the U.S. embarking on a new journey after running a successful clothing business. Imagine going from serving coffee as a barista to handling contracts worth thousands of dollars. Envision inspiring my twins to clean their room to guiding corporate executives to clear their minds of stress, all while maneuvering life’s pivots like a seasoned salsa dancer.
As a daughter, I learned resilience from watching my mother balance her dreams with family. As a wife, I discovered that partnership is like a dance, sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow, but it’s always a shared victory. Motherhood brought a whirlwind of emotions, unconditional love, patience, and the relentless pursuit of balance. Being a daughter-in-law taught me empathy, bridging generations and traditions with respect and unity. As a meditation and leadership instructor for over two decades with college students, I witnessed their uncertain steps turn into confident strides, guiding them as they discovered their footing.