Alexander Jewish Family Service Friends-

On a call yesterday a group of colleagues were talking about the sense of tiredness we were all feeling after living for over a year feeling like we needed to be constantly on guard to stay safe and protected. As the world becomes safer,  and people are starting the journey back towards many of the activities that we had paused, our excitement was tempered by a feeling of exhaustion as well. One of our colleagues on the call – a Rabbi and chaplain – encouraged all of us to carveout some “sacred time” for ourselves during the week – a personal Shabbat –that we protect from interruption and focus on caring for and nurturing ourselves. I love the idea of thinking of caring for ourselves as sacred time. As caregivers many of us think of the work of caring for others as sacred work but we don’t usually extend that idea to caring for ourselves.

The discussion reminded me of a poem by Brittin Oakman that speaks to this need for self-care:‍

     “I lied and said I was busy.

     I was busy;

     but not in a way most people understand.

     I was busy taking deeper breaths.

     I was busy silencing irrational thoughts.

     I was busy calming a racing heart.

     I was busy telling myself I am okay.

     Sometimes, this is my busy -

     and I will not apologize for it.”

Learning to take care of ourselves and to not apologize or feel ashamed of it – is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

The author Parker Palmer speaks to this in another way:

“Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others.

Anytime we can listen to true self and give the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.”

If it is not already part of your routine, I hope that you will consider setting aside some “sacred time” on a regular basis where you allow the world to be on its own for a short time and focus on your own need for care, healing, nurturing and calm.

Take care,

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Carl E. Josehart, MSW (he/him/his)

Chief Operating Officer

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