Take Care of You

I went into my favorite juice bar today. It is such a feel good place...happy people....great music playing....everything feels fresh and clean and healthy. While I was sitting at the counter enjoying my juice a man came in and ordered and then leaned against the counter to wait for his juice. I glanced over and noticed a tattoo on his arm. It said 'TAKE CARE OF YOU". A message right when I needed it most....I love when that happens. Those powerful signs that we know are meant for us. Sometimes I feel too shy to speak to strangers but today the words were coming out of my mouth before I had a chance to stop them. I said "I really like your tattoo, I needed to hear that today"....he was incredibly friendly and seemed genuinely touched that I had said something to him. He shared with me that he got that tattoo because that was always what his mother would tell him and other family members when they said goodbye...take care of you. It was a family thing and once his mom started saying it then everyone joined in. I am going to suggest right here and right now that we all start saying that to one another every time we say goodbye. How about even INSTEAD of goodbye....what does good bye really mean anyway??? Have a good bye??? I say let's stop that nonsense and remind each other of this sacred truth as much as we can....

TAKE CARE OF YOU. 

 It would have been too much for a tattoo but the rest of what his mother would say was something to the effect of....if you don't take care of you then you are no good to those you love or the world. His mother had passed a couple of years ago and it spun him into a pretty dark place but with the love and support of his friends he got through. I told him again how much I needed to hear that today. The daily part of taking care of YOU like exercise and eating right and praying or meditating are important but even more so the making life decisions that take care of you. The ones that allow you to be all of you. The big scary life changing things. Decisions that sometimes make other people feel bad, sad or mad. It's not easy this taking care of you idea. It takes guts and courage and a fair amount of mundane tasks in the mix...I have to hit my yoga mat...again? I just did it yesterday....I have to eat healthy EVERYday??? and floss? and try to follow my heart which could include any manner of unpleasant things. Things like living with uncertainty and walking away from relationships that no longer serve or leaving the job or house of your dreams because a bigger dream is calling you. Yes, it is risky business for sure. But even riskier to not do so don't you think? He suggested that I get a tattoo that said the same thing and ya know what? I am actually considering it because the story is just too good and the message is one of the keys to living your best life. Four simple words that form a creed to live by....

Take. Care. Of. You. 

Please do this...for the sake of yourself, your children, your partner, your parents, siblings, pets, friends, employees or employer, co-workers, your neighbor, the barista....do it for the world. And go ahead and get it tattooed on your forehead or maybe just your hand...it's up to YOU.