Self Care Vs. Taking Care of Yourself

February flew by - so fast in fact that I forgot to stop and reflect.

One thing that happened was I got a bad cold or flu. When you're alone and sick you start realizing there is a big difference between self-care (the nice things you do for yourself to stay sane and happy) and taking care of yourself (basic adult survival). Because when you're single and live alone, no one makes you dinner or puts a blanket on you when you pass out watching Olympic figure skating.

Taking care of yourself when your sick is the opposite of self-care. It sucks.

I pride myself on my ability to be alone and not care. I'm a feminist, I read, I consider myself "woke" as the kids say. But when I was shivering and coughing up a lung I was like damn, why can't someone make me a hot cup of tea. I made my own tea, and it was fine. I survived and managed to make it through. But it is nice when someone takes care of you, you know?

I still had my traditional heart-shaped pizza on Valentine's Day - a pizza designed for two that I enjoy for one. I ate my body weight in cinnamon hearts - including a flavoured latte flavoured with them. I watched the Olympics and imagined how my life would have been if I had significant athletic talent. I raced 10k and didn't die, though it felt like hell. February was challenging but rewarding in many ways. While I didn't do a lot of self-care - I muddled through, and sometimes that's all you can ask for.