28 Aug Being Good to Ourselves Is Good for Others
When Ella was little, our living room often looked like her Montessori classroom at nap time. She arranged her dolls and stuffed animals lying in careful rows, then laid small blankets across their backs. I can still see her tiptoeing along the carpet, careful not to disturb anyone, then settling cross-legged in the narrow spaces between them, a small hand on each side, patting in a steady rhythm while she hummed a little song or whispered, “Rest your body,” so everyone could wake recharged.
She was taking on the role of the carer, offering the kindness and attention she saw modeled each day in her toddler program. And every so often, she seemed to recognize that her own body needed rest too. She would slip into the rows she had made, find a small space between two friends, lie down, pull a blanket over her chest, and pat her belly with the same steady rhythm, knowing she belonged in the kindness she was offering.
When days feel crowded, I think of that picture. Even with the floor full, she made a spot for herself. We can follow her lead, being intentional about leaving a small space to care for ourselves between one act of care and the next.
When we are rested, patience comes easier. When we feel cared for, we have more care to give. The golden rule is a two-way street. Kindness to ourselves is also a kindness to the people we love.
She remembered to include herself. May we remember too.