What's Calling You?

 

 

What's calling you?

Yesterday morning the ocean called me - I heard it and I went.

Ok, I didn't go - it's a couple hours drive to the ocean and I was up to my ears in re-dos, projects and other work...

but I did seize half an hour out of my day to take a soak in the tub (with bath salts, of course).

Now - what with only having a regulation sized tub, in possibly the tiniest bathroom on earth (5' X 6' with heels, if bathrooms wore heels), I couldn't do much to create the whole wild-waves thing of the actual ocean - but it was enough (I plan to sit by a real lake this weekend, but that's another story).

Believe it or not, my bathing habits aren't the reason for this post. What I want to talk to you about is self-care - X-treme self-care!

I did hear the ocean yesterday. When I let my pup outside for a romp the gusts of wind were whooshing crazy-wild, like ocean waves. And the neighbor's disharmonious wind chimes clanged like buoys. I felt an internal pull to head to the water.

I needed water. Something happens when I'm around it: I feel more grounded, more myself. I feel connection - to Source, to everything - and everyone (including mySelf).

Water is one of the tools in my self-care toolbox - and I'm beginning to realize that I'm all about X-treme self-care and that darn toolbox!

I've learned that in order to be my BIG self in the world - in order to connect in a healthy way, give and take freely and deeply - I first need to revel in self connection and self-care (and YOU do too, I'm writing this to remind both of us!).

It's the oxygen in the airplane thing again.

So, in order to work X-treme self-care, I pay attention (ok, that should read: "I try to pay attention" - because, in all honesty - I don't always remember) -

and yesterday I heard the ocean calling. I needed to be near water. I'd prefer ocean, but a bath did nicely - and there's that lake trip in the works. I wonder what will call today...

How about you - what's calling YOU today? Will you pay attention?

Photo credit: Karen Caterson (can't you just tell when the pictures are mine? lol)

Comments

[Gin]

How great that you honored your need for extreme self-care and followed the call to the ocean! I'm a huge proponent of extreme self-care.

The ocean calls to me often - water in general, and I'm happy enough with a lake, but the waves and water of the beach nourish and feed my soul like nothing else. What you wrote about water describes how I feel about it too... Feeling more grounded, more like my self, more connected. It opens me up.

Unfortunately, the nearest beach is a 7-hour drive (but I can get to lake/river in less than an hour, which is good!). To help with the ocean's call to me, I have a CD with nothing but the sound of waves. And I have a couple of ocean DVDs - no people, only sand and water and waves and birds. And the DVDs loop, so when the end comes (after an hour or so, I think) these DVDs just start all over again. Sometimes I'll have one on in the background as I go about my day at home... it's one way I can follow the call of the ocean without driving all day to get to the beach.

Thank you for such a lovely post!

[jane]

My friend... sleep calls me today, as does fresh air and a few obligations to support my girls... but mostly sleep so glad you made self care and getting a bit of ocean a priority <3

[Giulietta Nardone]

Hi Karen,

What calls me? More hiking in the outdoors. I love it out there. Am planning our next trip to do more of it. I want to be in the presence of nature even more. We've got generations now afraid of nature. Bad omen for nature. Who will be the new stewards when us middle-ager/older folks can't do it anymore?

Glad you got a proxy for the ocean. Self-care is not taught in our rush, rush to nowhere world.

Thanks! G.

[Square-Peg Karen]

Thanks, Gin! I love that we have the love of the ocean in common!!

I'm very curious about your ocean DVD (and I'll ask you privately, but if you feel so inspired please share here - there might be others who are ooohing & ahhing at the idea)... I can imagine using an ocean DVD while I write

since I've been trying to do a lot more off-computer writing (it's a real creativity booster to me to switch them up>on computer/off computer).

[Square-Peg Karen]

I'm smiling as I picture you responding to the call of sleep, dear Jane! Here's to reframing our self-care stories (I'm alluding to the fact that Jane is the reframing Queen - http://reframingyourstory.com)

[Square-Peg Karen]

You're so right, Giulietta - self-care doesn't seem to be taught now, more like self-butt-booting.

Mama Nature grabs us, though - somehow it's pretty hard to stay externally oriented when you spend time connecting with Ma.

Sooo glad to read that you're feeding your Nature connection!

[Gin]

Hi, Karen! I have a couple of beach DVDs, and they're both part of a series called WAVES. I ordered them from Amazon. One of mine is Volume 10, Florida Beaches/WAVES (it also includes Vol. 9 Caribbean Daydreams). I'm not sure about posting a link here, since sometimes that makes a message go to a spam folder, but let me know if you want me to send you the link to the Amazon listing.

One of the customer reviews includes a short video clip from the DVD that gives a little taste of what it's like. No music, no people, just nature. I have another WAVES DVD too, but right now I can't remember which one... maybe Hawaii. I think they're very relaxing - and a way of "taking myself to the beach" even when I can't get there!

[Merry ME]

Chocolate cupcakes have been calling my name for 3 days. I finally answered, even though it's after 10pm. Nothing says lovin' like something from the oven!

[Terri]

I took an extra long nap yesterday and the day before. And I've been sitting on my patio for short periods several times each day and throughout the evenings answering a call be be in nature much more. I feel filled-up when I do that and refreshed to return to whatever I am doing.

Then a big calling lately for me has been reading children's books! Last night's bedtime read was "Kanga and Baby Roo Come to the Forest" by A.A. Milne!! It was a delightful read! My thinking has been lighter all day since I read it!

Thanks for this post Karen and reminding us the importance of listening to the inner voice calling us to do what is good for us!

[Merry ME]

I could spend hours reading children's books!

[patti]

What's calling me is a dirty house wanting to be a clean one. I have to start small, I'm recovering from radiation burns (breast cancer treatment) and fatigue. But I feel a little better everyday. And I do a little more everyday.

[Square-Peg Karen]

Thanks, Gin - I found it. I spent a couple years living on a boat in Florida when I was in high school -- and a decent amount of time on the island of Bimini (which is close enough for Caribbean Daydreams to grab my heart) - these are going to be sooooooo good for me!

I didn't think about the possibility of waking up the spam gods with the link, but glad you did - and I'm thankful to you for describing the DVD so it was easy to find. Thanks <3

[Square-Peg Karen]

Dear Jane, I hope you found time to rest in sleep's arms. That's sLeep's arms, not sHeep's arms - had to triple check coz I initially read my typing as "sheep's arms".

I had a friend who grew up on a small farm & wasn't allowed to use bad language as a child, so he and his sibs came up with the term "sheep pits" as their fake-swear words. Apparently sheep armpits are kinda gross -wouldn't want you to think I was hoping you got stuck napping in sheep pits (do I go on a bit? lol). <3

[Square-Peg Karen]

lol, you know Merry ME - I could hear the tune to the commercial when I read Nothing says lovin' - funny!

I'm glad you answered the chocolate cupcake call - yum, yum - doesn't it feel good to give ourselves what we desire!?!

[Square-Peg Karen]

Sounds like you've got some gorgeous self-care going there, Terri - I love that!

And children's books - oh! really, aren't they delightful?!? One day I'm going to ask folks to list their favorites - it'd be fun to find new favorites! Thanks for commenting, Terri <3

[Square-Peg Karen]

You too, Merry Me? How wonderful!!

I interviewed artist & writer Pattie Mosca awhile ago (but only recently brought the interview over from the old site) - and she talked about loving kids books, too. I felt drawn to share the link to her interview when I responded to Terri's comment, but I didn't...

now that you've mentioned being a children's book fan too I'm going to share Pattie's interview link (I'm thinking we're like a kids book club group right here - lol): http://squarepegpeople.typepad.com/squarepeg_reflections/2007/06/interview-with-pattie-mosca.html

So glad to "see" you Merry ME!

[Square-Peg Karen]

Ooooh, I've got one of those houses too, patti - but baking felt like more fun (and more self-care connected) to me today.

Sorry to hear that you're dealing with radiation burns (ouch) - wonderful that you're feeling "a little better everyday" - and it sounds like you're being good to yourself in starting small (sometimes it seems like we push ourselves to do too much, too soon - without considering what we're going through or have been through). Yea YOU!

Thanks for commenting!

[Terri]

Glad I am not alone on loving children's books Merry ME and Karen! Baby Roo and Kanga Come to the Forest was so meaningful, I now have a whole stack of children's books at my bedside! I'm having a blast reading these delightful books! I'm visualizing a field trip to the local library to sit in the children's section reading for an afternoon!

I followed your link Karen (so glad you included it in your comments!) and read your interview with Pattie Mosca! LOVED IT and her! A couple of her favorite books are also my favorite books! I just re-read "Hope for the Flowers" recently! Wonderful book!

I think it would be a lot of fun to ask for people's favorite children's books list! Neat idea!

Thank you for this post and great conversation!

[Square-Peg Karen]

Yes, I think asking people what their favorite children's book(s) is/are IS a good idea, Terri - what fun, as long as we don't have to answer with just ONE! : )

Picturing you in the kids' section of the library - great field trip idea!