A Step Inside Self

Self-love is the road toward healing. These prompts are an invitation to step inside yourself. Rupi Kaur

Loving oneself is a journey that never stops. For me, it started in my 20s. Before that, I don't remember any self-love. I grew up in an alcoholic/addicted environment. My move into self-love began at age 24.

In 1978, my people got religious freedom, meaning what was underground for beliefs, rituals, and practices, (ie. ceremonies) could then come above ground. It took time and there will be some things that will never come above ground.

This made it possible for me to accept self-love. In recovery from addiction, I began to accept others' love. That taught me that I was loveable.

Rupi Kaur's Self-love Writing Prompts - What's one thing you keep putting off but if you had the willpower, you would start right now?

In the photo above is a woman weight lifter. She is also someone with many tattoos. I have one tiny tattoo that my niece talked me into and I am good with that. However, I lifted weights 22 years ago and loved that.

Weightlifting helped me to feel stronger and more agile. I felt healthy and proud of myself for building up my muscles. I liked the visible definition, not like the wings of today.

Last year I bought a pickup and injured my arms/shoulder while getting in and out of the pickup truck. I believe it was a change of life vehicle for me and I had no business buying it.

The result of not lifting weights and buying something I shouldn't have has given me the struggle to heal my arms. I would love to start lifting weights again to build up my strength and prevent future injuries.

It is willpower that is needed to push through and just start. I have weights right by my desk. I just need to start. I thought weights close to my computer may give me the incentive.

Most days I just ignore them. And five-pound weights may be too heavy to start with. That is a very sad statement, as I was lifting 25-pound dumbells when last lifting with no problem.

This may be just what I need to start. Smaller weights will suffice during my healing period.

Rupi Kaur's Self-love Writing Prompts - If others walked a day in my shoes, what they would learn about me is ___________.

Retirement isn't really what many think of as retirement. I write every day first thing in the morning and morning is early. This morning it was 5:00 a.m. Who thinks retirement can mean getting up earlier than when you were working every day?

My day is half over by the time some teens are waking up in the summer. Sleep hours have changed for me. I no longer sleep 8 hours. Most nights it is 7 hours.

Three days a week I attend a support group and will occasionally go out for lunch or dinner. I am decluttering, which means taking small steps daily to get rid of what I don't need and what others don't want to have to clean up when I am gone.

As a culture consultant part-time, I have a group once a week, now for several years. Then I provide training on a 3-day curriculum several times a year, and I am a co-facilitator for other day-long or longer presentations that have been culturally adapted.

This month I am working with a co-presenter on two 60-90 minute presentations for counselors/therapists working with Native American people, who are dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues. One is the first week in August and the other is in October.

Then I work with 4 women as their sponsor. Meeting or talking on the phone or via text for help in their recovery atleast weekly.

In signing up for a volunteer position to talk with professionals about recovery for people they may be working with that have addiction issues is only now starting. This position means gearing up as a part of a team to get the word out.

These are my shoes right now. Retired? Not so much! The retirement part is not showing up at a job every day by 9:00 a.m. and leaving work at 5:00 p.m. A bit more flexibility. And not usually 40 hour weeks.

Rupi Kaur's Self-love Writing Prompts - Is there an apology you're waiting for someone to give you? What do you need them to say?

No. Not that I can think of. It is easier to expect one from me and if I keep writing these self-love prompts, I am sure I will have plenty of opportunities to do just that.