You don't have to carry it all alone.
“We don’t tell stories enough. I think when you tell the truth, it becomes a part of your freedom.” - Roxane Gay
About 10 years ago, I was a mother to two kids under 3 (I know, even writing it makes me want to give my younger self a quick hug, lol.). I remember that whenever we would go out, I would have my double stroller in the trunk and as you may imagine, a whole host of bags for emergencies, of course.
However, when we would arrive at the destination, instead of the stroller, I would strap my infant to my chest and pile all my bags onto my shoulders and back and then hold the hand of my toddler. I found opening up the stroller and loading it too tedious and it took too long (at most, it took 3-4 minutes).
To stay efficient and as productive as possible, I developed a norm of sacrificing my body, rather than taking the time to give my body what it needed to stay steady. I was used to being weary and run-down.
When we break our bodies, we are feeding a system that needs us to be fragile, instead of full. A system that requires us to be weary, instead of whole.
One woman said, “I’m no longer going to keep living tired.” That hit me. Being tired is not the norm. We can't continue to let it be our truth. Our badge of honor.
Saying yes to ourselves often means saying no.
This is a time to be awake, to be ready, to be full.
So I’m asking you, “how are you filling yourself right now?” Because even if you’re not noticing it, your body is. We are being depleted, slowly and surely, unless we fight back intentionally.
Life is not just about feeling what we need to thrive. It’s about consciously fighting what we’ve learned in the past to survive.
We learned:
- “Don’t take time for yourself.” Yet here we are, together.
- “You don’t have a story.” Yet here we are, rewriting it.
- “You must say yes.” And still, here we are saying a resounding no.
So I’ll ask: What do you need to rewrite this month? What’s draining you? What baggage are you carrying?
Agree I feel this, different melonin isn't a barrier on these issues either.
“When we break our bodies, we are feeding a system that needs us to be fragile, instead of full. A system that requires us to be weary, instead of whole.” That got me.
Thank you for this beautiful offering! I recently shared a part of my story that I’ve kept private for many years. I recently shared it in a community and the response I’m getting is incredible.
I’ve been running on empty for years, pouring into others while grasping at the crumbs thrown my way. No more! I’m expecting and accepting nourishing fullness and that’s it.
Thank you so much!
Blessings 🙏🏽