Are you taking care?

Take care. An expression I am certain you have heard or used before. There are many ways to “take care”. Self-care is one approach for each of us to take care.  Are you taking care of yourself? Loving yourself means that you recognize your needs and honor them.

What does it feel like when you are: thirsty, tired, sleepy, hungry, agitated, confused, happy, sad, glad, lonely, misunderstood? All of these feeling, or states of mind cause a response in your body. These are just some of the many places we visit in the flesh on any given day. Are you able to differentiate and identify the myriad of emotions you experience? How do you routinely respond? When you identify an emotion how do you process what you are feeling?

As I write this note I have been sitting at the computer for a couple of hours. The temperature in the California Riverside County community where I now sit is projected to be in the low 80s today. I am comfortably parked on the sofa with my feet elevated in the path of a nearby oscillating fan. Some time ago I felt like I ought to pause my writing, get up, walk to the kitchen and get some water. I was thirsty. Unconsciously I pressed beyond that feeling. I had emails to respond to and notes to write. I continued to do what I thought was the priority at the time, going through my to do list. I suppressed the feeling that I was thirsty. I quieted the signal.

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center’s online Health Encyclopedia my priorities appear to be askew. Take a look at what they have to report about being thirsty.

“Thirsty? Then your body is on its way to becoming dehydrated. For the average adult, water accounts for 60 percent of body weight. That water plays a critical role in nearly every bodily process. And being a quart or two low can affect how you feel. Water is key in body temperature regulation. 

Nearly everything you do during the day—typing, talking, walking, even eating—requires energy. That energy, in turn, generates heat, which escapes the body through perspiration. Perspiration is the mechanism that keeps the body cool.

Most adults lose about 1.5 liters of fluid a day in urine. An additional liter is lost through breathing, sweating, and bowel movements. An average woman needs about 11 cups of water (2.7 liters)—from all beverages and foods—each day, and the average man needs about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters), according to 2004 recommendations from the Institute of Medicine. Because about 80 percent of a person’s total water intake comes from drinking water and beverages—including caffeinated beverages—and the remaining 20 percent comes from food, the average woman should drink about nine cups of liquid a day; the average man should drink about 12 cups. But water needs are very individual, depending on many factors in your daily life, so many doctors simply advise their patients to drink until they are no longer thirsty.”  (http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=604)

Wow! “60% of my body weight”, “Critical…in nearly every bodily process” and I need about eleven cups per day. My body spoke to me about what I needed, perhaps I knew some of the why, yet it was not in the forefront of my mind. Now that I am refocused on the importance of the water, how vital it is to me and that I am better cared for when I take a proactive approach to being hydrated, I will make an improved effort to take care. I have already gotten up, filled a 32 ounce container with cool water and ice. I have begun to drink the water at regular intervals and have almost emptied the container!

Over the past few days I have been reminded of how vital self-care is for each of us. I truly endeavor to improve my life and the lives of others by loving my neighbor as myself. As I improve daily the impact God has designed me to have on others improves too. As I give Him the glory my relationship with Him grows. The deeper my love for myself, because of Him and His purpose, the deeper my love for Him. There is not a day on the calendar when I anticipate giving God glory by loving Him first and then my neighbor, as myself will become obsolete. According to Jesus’ own words in Mark 12:30–31 there is no other commandment that ranks with theses (see The Message Version).

His economy (of give give) allows me to give more to others and myself at the same time. However, I am directed to focus on Him, then me! We can choose not to do it at all or we can choose the wrong order. You have the same opportunity.

He loves us enough to have given us free will. Since we have that will is it smart to ask why or use the tools provided? If you were in the wilderness in a very cold place and you discovered you had some matches (with which you could build a fire for warmth, or summon help) is it smarter to build the fire or sit in the cold questioning why you are in the wilderness?

We have been provided with what we need. Some of our tools are designed for self-care. Others allow us ease of access to Him and His righteousness. As we give Him glory we take care by: loving Him, ourselves and our neighbors. Listen to your body, honor and respond to your needs, including our innate need to have a relationship with Him.

Now take care! Take Inventory and Take Action!

Let me know if you need help with self-care, remember it will help you and help me.

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”