When a friend of mine saw the photo above, he said: "You must really enjoy your own company!" I thought it was an odd comment. But, after I thought about it for a bit...he was a person who couldn't be alone and always had to be surrounded by people. He probably never gave himself a chance to find out if he enjoyed his own company or not. I had to ask myself: "If you don't enjoy your own company, how can you expect it of others?"
Part of enjoying your own company is spending time with yourself.
For me, it has to be quality time that removes the distractions and barriers, of which there can be many. Growing up in a home where I was NEVER alone, I very deliberately decided that I was going to learn to be alone when I moved to New Orleans to go to graduate school in 1976. These days I tease, I got too good at living alone! I do love it!
Part of enjoying your own company also requires that you know how to be good to yourself. What makes you happy? What makes you smile? What is enough for you? What feels special?
That doesn't mean that other people may not be the answer to those questions. But during these pandemic times, our challenge is to find ways to nurture ourselves, feel good, and sometimes work to construct the special for ourselves.
With the changes that the pandemic has brought to all of our lives, nurturing ourselves has become even more important. And now, with the virus second-waving and increasing all over the world, how are we going to nurture ourselves through the winter and the holiday season this year?
It's time to start planning!
Happy Wednesday!
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