Le Chat Noir

I am having one of those days where I realize that I need to take a better care of my body.

I'm not so much talking about the whole diet and exercise rigmarole. I am talking about more of an external awareness and care.

-My ear hurts likely due to TMJ issues and jaw clenching.
-I have wind burn from being on set a couple of days ago to the point that mild lotion hurts my face.
-My left ankle and heel are janky from hyperextending when stepping off of a high curb a few days ago.
-I am covered in a million little scratches all over my body from being a cat climbing post and exercise bag.
-I have several little burns on my hands and wrists from cooking.
-At some point I bashed my right elbow into something and now have a deep, aching bone bruise.
-I'm not even going to go into the dozen or so minor bruises that I have no idea how I got.

So, yeah. It all kind of adds up to be a thing.
Why am I sharing? Because I know I'm not the only one like this. I know there are so many more of you that are a little bashed, bruised, nicked, scraped and not really doing anything about it because, individually, they are all minor.

But when you add them up there is a cost.

So I would like to encourage all of you to check in with yourself. Take some focused time and check in with your body. Attend to all of those tiny little things that might need moisturizer, or vitamin e, or a little time with a heat pack, or some gentle stretching, or an Epsom salt soak, or whatever. Give yourself the time, attention, and care to heal. Treat yourself a little delicately for a while. Grant yourself the time to move a little more slowly and be mindful of the space that you need instead of just pinballing through spaces and moments because the world makes us feel like we don't have the luxury of slowing down.
Give yourself grace. Be kind to yourself. You deserve it.