Woman, Take Care of Yourself First!

Aim(s): (1) The focus is to get women to put themselves first despite their many responsibilities. (2) Giving yourself the proper 'me time' allows you to give better service to another. (3) Create your No Compromise List.

While waiting underneath the hood of a dryer at my Harlem salon, I read O Magazine’s article on Michelle Obama then contemplated on a previously read chapter entitled 'Unexpected Crisis' [from Death of a Parent-Transition to a New Adult Identity]. I analyzed points from both pieces & thought:

Women, we, really need to take care of ourselves. Despite all our responsibilities, we need to put ourselves first. If we are not giving ourselves the proper ‘me time’, then we suffer & our output suffers.

Below are several statements from both pieces that reveled points that we typically forget:
Point 1: Women typically marry older men

Point 2: The death of a man typically precedes the death of a woman.
Point 3: Women usually bear the emotional burden of most matters & are typically well equipped to do so over time. But, it's not healthy to constantly take on your burdens and other people's burdens.

Point 4: Although, all working people report they are suffering from more stress related to balancing responsibilities at work and at home, the greater burden falls on women.

We we need to habitually do things that are ‘just for me’! These things should not be done just on ‘special days’, as a birthday, weddings, parties, or holidays. As Michelle Obama stated she wants her children/her girls to see their mother taking car of herself (i.e. exercising). The First Lady stated, " I realized that my happiness is tied to how I feel about myself. I want my girls to see a mother who takes care of herself, even if that means I have to get up at 4:30 so I can do a workout." Her point is extremely important! The First Lady’s actions model what her girls need to do to live in an excellent manner.

Women typically live just to survive, help others and not fully LIVE and in an EXCELLENT manner. Moving forward, make personal promises to yourself to take care of yourself first. I made a ‘No Compromise List’(NCL) that is to remind me of my action plan (to take care of ourselves). My NCL has daily, weekly, & monthly tasks that I will NOT compromise on.

Final Words:
When God is leading the way, survival is not in question. So, it is one of my personal goals to live fully and in an excellent way just as the spirit of God intends for us….

Live Freely, Love deeply, Laugh Loudly. “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

*Woman, Take Care of Yourself First will be the topic for May's mtg.*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIwzRp0P1vc