Leigh Holland-Keen Instagram – Self care
Over the years and through each hardship, my definition of “self care” has changed.
My first proper dealing with “self care” was during a really tough time in my life – when I was diagnosed with Post Natal Depression.
Farkkk, I struggled so much, I think back to those days and I honestly want to reach in, grab my little chubby postpartum face and say “you’re going to get through this, I’ve got you” .
I felt worthless as a new mother, a person, a friend, a partner. I felt I had no one to turn to because I didn’t want people to see me “fail” I had limited family support, I lost my friends. Life was so incredibly dark.
I knew something had to change, I thought “self care” was all about physically pampering yourself, I’d get an hour away to go get a manicure – only to feel so anxious and guilty for leaving my baby. Getting a manicure didn’t help… going for a walk around kmart didn’t help.. randomly driving to Yass and screaming in my car didn’t help. Little did I know that creating boundaries was going to be my self care – telling people how I truly felt and not trying to people please was my self care, having the courage to actually tell my then partner how I really needed help around the house and with mackenzie was self care.
Then, as I grew stronger and worked harder – my self care changed, it changed to not putting up with bullshit, it changed to not staying in situations or relationships that were no longer bringing me happiness.
Then it changed again after my mum passed away
It changed to trying to focus only on the main priorities and “dulling out” the excess noise as I truly didn’t have the capacity to take on anymore. A lot of people didn’t like that, but for my own selfcare, I had to.
Then it changed again after I was diagnosed with Liposarcoma and literally had to be brought back to life, . It changed SO much after this, NOW … selfcare is whatever the fuck I want it to be , some days it’s adventuring down the coast on my own, some days it’s spending the day in the house playing game after game with my beautiful daughter, some nights it’s staying home with chocolate and a serial killer documentary and… cont in comments ⬇️ | Posted on 06/Feb/2023 17:43:57
