Self-care

Self-care is 
mopping the floor,
submerging the dishes in soapy water
so they’re easier to wash,
wiping off the counter with a wet cloth.
Sometimes it’s nourishing
the creative soul
with drawing or making music
or poetry. 
Tonight it’s brushing my teeth 
when I’m usually too tired to
and putting on a fresh shirt 
before getting into bed. 
It’s the time taken to plan
healthy meals and make them,
to push my body a little further. 
A week ago, it was crying to
acknowledge the pain,
until falling asleep,
and laughing in the morning.
Crying a little more before moving on..
It could be doing the laundry, taking a shower, or traveling to new places; completing an assignment and indulging myself with cake. 
It could be spreading flower petals around my bed, laying in them, and daydreaming,
or paying my bills on time and taking out the trash.
Calling my Mom,
My best friend,
Drinking coffee on the balcony,
Saying goodbye to a bad habit. 
Sex.
Groceries.
Prayer.
It might be laying here, thinking of a beautiful life with you,
letting sleep take me away,
so I can start again tomorrow.

Reviews

[Relic's Bare Trees]

I've noticed that even mundane or commonplace issues can have an effect on me even in little ways. If I neglect them, the result has a tendency to pile up. To have discipline even in small things can also add up but in a good way.

To some perhaps, this poem may seem banal or simple, but I think there's a big story that lies beneath it if the reader thinks about it.

[Faati Jaan]

I find beauty in the mundane. Often times, there is the misconception that self-care has to mean going to an expensive spa or having a grand shopping spree. But most of the time, self-care is doing the little things that are necessary in order to take care of yourself, physically, mentally and emotionally, especially in those times when it's hard to keep that balance.