Take a well deserved break....

Let's just say that today was hmmmm.....trying. I am not going to go into any details but it was not a fun day. My friend posted this on Facebook and I really enjoyed it so I am throwing it out there for my friends (but esp. those of you that I have met through this crazy military lifestyle!) Take a well deserved break and God Bless!

Take a Well-Deserved Break
Krista Wells September 08, 2009


Let’s just start off by saying that there is nothing selfish about putting yourself first or “self care,” especially for military families. Self care is not only healthy, but also one of the best ways to show support for those who serve because the more self sufficient we are, the more energy we have for ourselves and others.
Lisa Earle McCleod gracefully reminds us of this in her book, Forget Perfect. And we all know that military life isn’t “perfect,” but if we can learn to look beyond immediate struggles and accept that it’s through our sacrifices that life has much of its deeper meaning, we can learn to step back, appreciate, and honor ourselves.
And don’t feel guilty for pursing an interest outside of military life or for taking time to accomplish a personal goal. Think of it like this: When we board an airplane the flight attendant reminds us that in an emergency we must adjust our own oxygen before assisting others.
The more we treat ourselves to what we love, the easier we can breathe, and in turn, be that breath of fresh air for others. Here are four self-care tips to keep you relaxed, focused and at your best:
Spoil Yourself Rotten: Life Coach Talane Miedaner shares that we can actually spoil ourselves silly on a shoestring in her book Coach Yourself to Success. One military girlfriend shared that she did this by getting her make-up professionally done at the department store for a minimal purchase. She also used some savvy and left with a free sample of a new perfume to go with her new look.
Another spouse implemented one of her tips and volunteered at a local playhouse as an usher, which is a great way for her to give back to her community while enjoying free shows during her spouse’s deployment.
Creative Ways to Splurge: Miedaner also shares how to turn the most mundane activities into luxuries with a little creativity. Her suggestions include things such as serving cereal in a fancy bowl adorned with fresh fruit, adding Epson salts to a hot bath, upgrading the dull pencils in your junk drawer to an expensive pen, or adding a candle to the family dinner table.
Schedule Regular Rejuvenation: Block out time in your calendar for yourself and your goals. Numerous examples of pursuing personal goals are presented by authors Kathie Hightower and Holly Scherer in Help I’m a Military Spouse; I Want A Life Too We all do a great job at keeping lists of what we should do, but make sure that scattered throughout your to-do list is some permission to just do nothing.
Give the Gift of Grace: We should never feel guilty about taking time for ourselves, and the more we tend to our own needs the more energy we have to handle life’s stressors with ease. Our country relies on the military, which relies on the support from the home front. We all know that a servicemember’s career advancement is correlated with the well being of the family. The more your servicemember knows you are taking care of yourself, the more they can focus on their mission.