Nourishing Mama Mission One ~

This is the first week of my mission to reclaim my health, my creativity and well, my self! For this mission the focus is on cultivating sacred space in daily life. It is so important to me to have some time by myself without kids around. Time to have my own thoughts, to reflect and just be me. Perhaps all parents aren't like me, I really don't know about other people's experiences. I just know that this special time even if just for a few minutes helps me be a better mom and a better me. If this mission calls to you, please join me and cultivate your own sacred space.

The mountain and me ~

When my first daughter was born I found the tremendous effort of taking care of newborn shockingly overwhelming. I mean really didn't know what I was in for! At the time we lived in a tiny mountain town up high near the Continental Divide in Colorado. It was absolutely beautiful. My bright sunny kitchen window opened up to a huge mountain peak all covered in tundra and sparkly snow. Strong, steady and ever quietly present that mountain became my friend. Every morning after feeding and diapering my newborn baby, after sweet kisses and snuggles accompanied by my exhaustion from begin up at all hours, I would sit at my table drinking tea and communing with the mountain. As my precious baby napped next to me in her swing, I let the mountain's presence fill me up and anchor me in my new life as a mother while breathing in steamy herbal tea vapors. This ritual only lasted a month or so until things changed as they do with parenting, but it taught me something. It taught me to take advantage of those little moments of rejuvenation and to let them fill me up.

Well, I did learn but I also forgot ~

Yet, I forgot and forget to take this time for myself each day. The years since those lovely mornings at my kitchen table have found me here and there reclaiming sacred space for myself yet inevitably then something happens as life with my kids again changes and I lose my footing, I lose my way. I notice that I am lost when I start to feel disconnect from my inner guidance and yes, I even get snappy with my kids. It is ok though because this is how life goes and what matters is getting back to what feels right.

My sacred space ~

My favorite time to rejuvenate and center myself is in the morning right after I get out of bed. The times in my life when I have gotten up consistently to take care of myself right away in the morning have been some of the best of my life. I have energy and am focused, ready for the day to start. My favorite thing to do in the morning? Yoga. Through yoga I connect with my body and my breath. I feel better all the way down to my spirit. Because I am a bit out of sync right now with yoga I am starting small. Just 20 to 30 minutes max of a nice routine followed by writing in my journal for one page. That is it. Then I go on with my day. I have done this for about 4 days so far and plan to continue. In two weeks I will re-evaluate, see how I am doing and hopefully expand my practice. So far, so good. It feels wonderful to know that by the time my kids get up I have already taken care of me. Some how those morning hugs become even more precious than before!

Any time is a good time ~

Do you cultivate time and space for yourself in your daily life? What works for you? I know that some folks do their best at night while others like me find the morning the best time for connecting and rejuvenating. If you need time to take care of you, please join me on this little mission. Let me know how you are doing. What are you doing during your time?