I’ve been thinking about it for awhile. It’s been in the back of my mind but I never had the courage to do it.
The last 1o years my identity has been a caretaker, a nurse, a chauffeur or a maid. I realized one day that I don’t even know myself anymore. I was going through the motions that all of us go through as moms. My routine never went off course. I didn’t know what kind of books I liked to read or what type of food I liked. My whole world revolved around my kids and my husband. I was tired. I was frustrated. I was not happy.
I needed a change. I needed something that was going to make me feel like me again.
You may think I am selfish. At first, I thought I was too. This isn’t for everyone. But it has been the best thing that has happened to me.
It started off slow. An early morning here or after work once a week. Soon it became an early morning Saturday ritual. I liked how it made me feel. It was good for me.
I am having an affair… with myself. An early morning gym visit. An afternoon coffee date with myself. A visit to a local bookstore. Late night binging on Netflix when everyone else is alseep. Even just going to the grocery story by myself. I even reconnected with an old high school friend.
I needed a recharge and a reboot. I forgot how important it was to practice self-care. I thought about me just for one hour. I got my body moving, I started eating better and I was sleeping better. I felt like me again.
As moms, we forget to put ourselves first. I was unhealthy mentally and physically. I wasn’t taking care of me, which was not making me the best mom and wife that I could be.
I encourage you to have an affair with yourself. Four of five times a week, I take myself out on a date. Yes, it’s to the gym to sweat, but it’s my time to to put me first. I am a better wife and mom for it.
