Rekindling the Romance ~ With Yourself- Part 2 of 2

This Valentine's Day why not be YOUR OWN Special Valentine and rekindle the romance that is yours for life ... the Romance with Our Self. Below I'm sharing some of the ways I do this ~ starting with my afternoon tea.

You can read part 1 - This Valentine's be your own Valentine - here.

Setting time aside for tea is one of the ways I romance ME on a daily basis.

~ Make your tea an extra special moment ~

Set a setting like you would if a friend was coming over. 

Complete with teapot, tea cup, flowers, a yummy treat (you deserve it - remember all things in moderation is just fine) and touches that say you care.

Treat yourself to a special china teacup set - 

one that is just for you to use during your special time.

I do not take sugar with my tea, so I use the sugar bowl as a stand for my tea strainer.

I also like to read inspirational books ~ during my quiet time with myself.

Other ways I keep the Romance going with myself are:

Forgive myself ~ I am learning that as much as we need to forgive others; perhaps the most important person we need to remember to forgive is our self. When things from my youth surface in my thoughts, I acknowledge the lesson(s) learned - and then release the thought back to the past.

Take myself on a date ~ whether it's a movie, restaurant or a special function that I would like to attend, especially when it's something which may not be of interest to Mr. G or friends. I'm my own friend too! So why not take myself?

Being generous with myself ~ if there is something that I really would like for myself, I don't wait for others to buy it for me. I treat myself.

Keeping a journal ~ where I write about all the things I'm grateful for; my hopes and dreams and sometimes just random thoughts.

 Nurture - Body, Mind and Spirit

Body ~ eat healthy foods, massage, mani/pedi, up keep grooming (waxing, hair care etc.)

Mind ~ say positive affirmations about self, surround self with positive people

Spirit ~ say a quiet prayer, meditate, walk in nature, hug a tree 

How do you keep the Romance in the relationship with Yourself?

Note: the darling little Angel on the gift box and sugar bowl lid are cherished gifts from my dear friend Mariette of Mariette's Back to Basics, who inspires me to live a simple and true life. I often use them in my afternoon tea settings for myself, as a reminder that I am never alone ~ my Angels are always with me.


Sharing this post with : 
 "Isabelle Thornton"  Le Chateau des Fleurs for Monady Linky ~Little red House for Mosaic Mondays ~  A Return to Loveliness Tuesday Tea Time Tuesday ~Tuesday Cuppa Tea  ~Friends Sharing Tea ~ Tea Cup Tuesday ~ A Return to Loveliness ~Tea Time Thursday 

Who is the Person in the Mirror? - Part of Picking Up the Pieces Mondays

While in the hospital I had caught small glimpses of my reflection on glass windows; but had not registered the toll the injuries had taken on my body, once home access to full length mirrors began to show the reality. A once toned, fit, healthy body had been replaced by one with multiple limitations, a frail frame, T shaped train tracks to nowhere – now decorate my abdomen, while a single track ran down the inside my right arm. My long lush hair ,was now thin short straw like and much had fallen out on the back of my head partially by the time spent in the hospital laying on my back and from the trauma I had sustained to the back of my head. I would later discover that about a thumb length and two thumb widths area would never grow hair again, due to the soft tissue damage in that area.

Aside from the physical changes, the reflection that once showed a healthy glow, full of life person, with dimples that became prominent with every smile or smirk, even teeth, hazel eyes that sparkled and took on a green tone at excitement and extreme happiness was no longer present. In the place of the once ever present reflection was a reflection of sunken cheeks, sallow grayish skin tone, chipped teeth , and expressionless, hunched lifeless image. The tone in my speech had also been affected by the trac– the voice that was once so familiar was also now that of a stranger.

Having been a corporate career driven person, whose appearance had been as important as my abilities to conduct business. Now not only was my ability to process information, speak in a professional manner, tainted – I no longer recognized the reflection in the mirror staring back at me. The realization of the extreme changes in my appearance and ability to express myself sent me crying myself to sleep many nights thereafter.

What I want to share with others;

For those facing a change in their appearance regardless of the cause or degree of change, it can be extremely difficult and self destructing. Especially when their image is/has been so much a part of whom they were/are and how they are received and or viewed by others. Mentally and emotionally it can be as painful and debilitating as physical pain.

Telling someone “You are lucky to be alive, it doesn’t matter what you look like- your looks are only super-facial” or “Now you know how it feels to be out of shape like me” or “If I had the body you had before the accident I would be so happy and try to go out with that guy”– does not help. Trust, me the person knows and is grateful to be alive ~ though well meaning, these statements only reinforce that they are no longer whole. Yes, these were real statements said to me at various times, by different people.

For anyone reading this that is going through a self-image crisis regardless of the reason, if how you present yourself to the world is/has been part of who you were/are, KNOW that you are not being super-facial. The resolution is speaking to a professional(s) and or people who can help you adjust to who you are at the moment and help you build a plan to re-build your self-image – mentally, emotionally and physically.