It's called self-care. Look it up.

The Week in Selfies: 3/30/20 - 4/5/20

What is self-care anyway?

Well, Webster’s Dictionary defines it as…nope. This is not a high school graduation address or a half-drunk wedding speech made by a distant acquaintance. Alright, so, a different approach.

Self-care is a word that is in heavy rotation in my vocabulary, particularly since March 2020. I use it for myself. I throw it at friends. I subtly (and not so subtly) try to convince my Mom that she deserves some. Sometimes I yell it out my window in hopes that it will inspire someone to pour themselves a glass of something bubbly. 

Is it a stupid little mental health walk? Is it various stupid little text-message check-ins? Is it stupid little attempts at hydration? Shopping? Drinking? Napping? Comfort TV? CAKE????

For someone who uses the word like currency, I don’t actually know. I think it’s all of it. Or none of it. Self-care is important and also dangerous because you can label anything “self-care.” Sometimes it means taking the day off and trying again tomorrow. But, it can also mean pushing yourself instead of running away. And somehow, we have to know which one it is? 

For me, it seems to be the simplest things I do to take care of myself. Which is something that always works. Which also makes me mad. Which then inspires me to send all caps text messages about how THAT STUPID LITTLE THING WORKED AGAIN.

Logic would have it that self-care is the things we do to feel like we have some control in a world that is out-of-control. I think it’s partly that. I also think it’s the things we do to feel like we’re grown-ups, that we’re successful adults in some way. I’m 35 and I drank water today! Look at me go!

Being a grown-up is largely a myth. I don’t think I’ve ever met a person at any age who actually feels like a grown-up, a full blown adult. In fact, one of my Dad’s favorite things to say is “I don’t know what I want to be when I grow-up.” We’re just older kids with bills and jobs and experience now. Older kids having to contend with a stark reality that humor and fun and kindness can be hard-to-find commodities. 

So, maybe, self-care is actually the things we do that remind us that we’re kids who need tending to, kids who need to laugh and dance and eat Kraft mac ‘n’ cheese, kids who need someone to bandage up their scraped knee while we cry and snot all over their shoulder. Maybe self-care is actually just joy disguised as the stupid little things we do to take care of ourselves.   

Monday, March 30, 2020

Golden under eye mask thingys? It’s called self-care. Look it up.

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

The same outfit two days in a row? It’s call self-care. Look it up.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Vacant eyes and a vaguely surprised look on the face? It’s called self-care. Look it up.

Thursday, April 2, 2020

A bemused look and the return on the hand-on-chin desk selfie? It’s called self-care. Look it up.

Friday, April 3, 2020

Wild hair, a black silk robe, and astonishment at the accomplishment of a shower? It’s called self-care. Look it up.

Saturday, April 4, 2020

A blank look from bed on a Saturday? It’s called self-care. Look it up.

Sunday, April 5, 2020

The full lay-down Sunday? It’s called self-care. Look it up.

Writing this newsletter which unavoidably requires some vulnerability? Ew. Ugh. I mean…It’s called self-care. Look it up.

Content note for paid subscribers: You’ll start receiving the weekly Tryping my Best Moment of the week the first full week of April. For all others, if that intrigues, consider becoming a paid subscriber.