I have developed (with the help of ChatGPT) a pretty comprehensive self-care plan for the next 3 months. This week concerns itself with exercise. Every day the goal is to spend 90 minutes walking or exercising outdoors, along with a few 20 minute at home yoga classes to be done before work, during work breaks, and before bedtime.
Like most days this week, my intention was to walk the north side of False Creek to English Bay, and then through the west end to downtown. But that didn’t happen. I spent a total of 23 minutes outside today, and then the sunshine just didn’t feel good anymore. I was tired, and dizzy. And not happy. Which is not how I want to feel on the most beautiful day of the year so far. So I walked home, and fell into bed, where I slept for 3.5 hours. That tells me there is something going on, that sunshine and walking can’t fix. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself, is ignore you carefully planned to-do list, and just listen to your body instead.
When I woke up, I spent a great deal of time worrying about where I am going to fit in that extra 10km walk this week. But the truth is, rest is healing – especially when you aren’t feeling fantastic. And so I am going to move forward from where I am now. And not consider this a failure. Instead learning to listen to my body just proves that I am already learning a lot from this journey.
Goodnight (again).
*No tea was had tonight. I don’t need the caffeine.
My name is Laura. This blog will serve as documentation on a 90 day (and perhaps longer) commitment to new self-care practices. If you find yourself here, you will join me in daily walks by the water, and occasional forest or tree lined street, new to me healthy recipes, some lessons discovered during therapy sessions, reading a few books, watching a few movies, and finding some fun. This journey into self-care will revolve around my core values of curiosity, creativity, inclusion, accountability, and harmony.
Welcome.
Solitude & Sereni.tea 
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