Self-care isn't selfish

 Author: Reenu M.

Neha & Meet woke up to the insistent ringing of their phone alarms. It was 5:30 a.m. Both of them wanted to snooze their alarms & sleep some more. They reviewed their choices – Sleep or Not-to- sleep.

Meet had that presentation to complete which according to his boss needs to be sent immediately as it is given to him; he had received 15 reminders already. As if his hands could work magic. But before starting on the presentation, he had a lot to do. First, he had to sweep and mop the apartment. Maids were a huge risk for his aged parents in this time of Covid-19, so he & Neha had decided to do everything themselves. Then, he had to walk both his parents; they needed the exercise. Then, feeding them breakfast and giving them their medicines.

Neha had an Australian client call at 9:00 a.m. for which she still had some preparations left to complete. She had the laundry to be done, clothes to be folded, utensils to be washed, breakfast to be cooked, children to be woken and set up for online class. Only after that could she get ready for the call.

Both of them shrugged. The choice had been made – Not to sleep. A no-brainer really!

When Meet’ mother went to use the restroom around 6:00 a.m., she found both of them doing exactly the same thing that they had been doing for months. They claimed it was their mantra for getting through any sort of crisis… well, Covid is one of the greatest that we have faced, right?

Meet was engrossed in yoga and Neha was meditating.

Meet’ mother smiled and thought about what her son had told her when she had strong misgivings about ‘wasting time’ when there was so much to be done.  “Self-care isn’t selfish. If Neha & I are not fit physically & emotionally, how can all of you bank upon us? Remember Ma, how when we travel in airplanes, they say in case of emergency, put your own mask before assisting anyone else?”. Her husband and she have never missed their meditation routine at 10:00 a.m. ever since.

 

Zinger for the Day:

Self-care isn’t selfish. Practise self-care daily.