Take Time to Pause for Self-Care [yesmagazine.org]

Alicia Doktor 10/13/1712:00 PM

We’re in the midst of an extraordinary time. Deadly wildfires, ongoing desperation in Puerto Rico, the acquittal of the yet another police officer—this time the one who killed Anthony Lamar Smith—and continued twitter harassment from our troller-in-chief. Oh yeah, and threats of nuclear holocaust.

So in this week’s column, I want to invite you to pause and take care of yourself. Catch your breath. Take a moment to restore your spirits.

Some of those who work for justice and ecological sanity struggle to find time to care for themselves and for each other. But our work for a better world includes nourishing our own spirits, and the spirits of those around us, and that means allowing time for sadness and quiet, and for healing. Doing so makes us more resilient and better able to offer loving support to others.

[For more on this story by Sarah van Gelder, go to http://www.yesmagazine.org/hap...r-self-care-20171012]

Photo: “Our work for a better world includes nourishing our own spirits.” Photo by Ümit Bulut/Unsplash.

Add Comment

Sign In To Comment

Comments (1)

Newest · Oldest · Popular

Karen ClemmerMember

As someone living through the fires in Sonoma County - a safe-ish distance from active fire - these words ring so true for me. The media coverage has been intense and often sensationalized - I find myself needing to take technology breaks - and just be present - in the moment - feeling my feet on the ground - with my breath.

This quote from the article - made me stop and pause ...

Do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am ”a reluctant enthusiast ... a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure

10/14/179:32 PM

<div id="{%=id%}" class="reveal-modal small h-alert-modal-popup" data-reveal>
    <div class="first-modal-focus focus-utility-element" tabindex="0" aria-label="Inside Modal"></div>

<h4 id="{%=id%}_title" class="margin-bottom-10 popup-title"></h4>
    <div id="{%=id%}_body" class="margin-bottom-10 popup-body">
        </div>

<ul id="{%=id%}ButtonGroup" class="button-group h-popup-buttons even-button-group even-1">
    <li id="{%=id%}Okay_buttonContainer"><a id="{%=id%}Okay" href="javascript:void(0);" class="button success no-margin-bottom h-alert-modal-ok-button" role="button">OK</a><script type="text/javascript">
        (function() {
            function {%=id%}Okay_click(event, data) {
            {%=id%}Popup.hide();
        }
        
                $('#{%=id%}Okay').on('click', {%=id%}Okay_click);
        })();
    </script></li></ul><a href="javascript:void(0);" class="close-reveal-modal" aria-label="Close Modal">&#215;</a><div class="last-modal-focus focus-utility-element" tabindex="0"></div>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
        (function() {
            {%=id%}Popup = new SS.Popup.ModalPopup('{%=id%}');
        })();
    </script>