Prescription for a Caregiver

Yesterday my naturopathic doctor wrote me a prescription. It says:

PLAY A LOT.
Do anything and everything
to nurture yourself
and have fun!

This prescription came about precisely because I haven't been nurturing myself or taking care of myself very well. Instead, I've been focused on taking care of Romeo. I know better, of course, but now I KNOW better. Each cell in my body KNOWS now to play and nurture myself much more than I have been.

It's been a few days since my doc wrote that play prescription, so what have I done so far to play and nurture myself and have fun? I've played my djembe drum every day, played with my grandchildren, took regular soaks in my spa tub, worked on my art, meditated more. These activities are ones I do regularly anyway -- but now I'm doing them more often and for longer periods of time. Yippeee!

And I have noticed the change in me, even after a mere few days. Specifically, I've noticed that I no longer feel that taking care of Romeo is a heavy burden. Crises he reports to me aren't crises at all, but small issues or problems that are easily handled. As a result, I feel more energy running through me, and I've noticed a clarity of thinking that makes it easy for me to make decisions.

In addition, my new play and nurture model has given me a fresh outlook and a renewed sense of optimism. I'm jazzed about my art again, I'm motivated to play my drum, and I'm clear on setting boundaries to protect my play and nurture time.

As a result, new possibilities are opening up to me. New ideas for recreating every aspect of my life have appeared on my radar, along with the awareness of what that life might look like. Yes, my life goes on without Romeo, and it will look very different without him. But it's all good because it came to me through play and nurturing.