by Shelley Taylor, Guest Blogger
With only my cat in my daily life (and she gets lots of love), the onus is on me to show myself the love and respect I deserve. As often as I try to honour my battered body and foggy mind, I still recognize how unkind I am to her at times.
Self-judgment and self-loathing arise when I self-sabotage. I’m learning to forgive myself for my weaknesses and let it be. Try harder tomorrow—no self-recriminations; instead, a softer, more tender acknowledgment of my inner child. Staying quiet and just loving her as she cries for attention.
I’ve been on a spectacular journey for the past few months, doing much of the “self-work” and healing from past traumas—slaying dragons, or in some cases, recognizing they’re no longer threats and that I can blow them away like dust bunnies collected in the crevices of my mind.
That “work” is allowing me to shift into the persona I now am—the little old lady; the Crone! My inner child is finally growing up and meeting me at my current age of 70 (almost 71)!
I’m a little old lady with a complicated health condition, and as uncomfortable as that may be, I’m happy here—being authentic and true to myself and others. Not hiding my weaknesses or spending spoons to rally through upheavals. I’m being mindful and content, accepting myself and all my foibles and frustrations…
and loving myself.
