There’s a story I’ve told over and over for the last several years.
It’s taken from a conversation I had with one of our coaches at RevFit, Mike.
Mike’s wife, Marina, was pregnant with their first child, Millie, who would soon be brought into this world.
He was at the studio getting in a workout before clients started rolling in, and while he was setting up for his squat, I gave the advice that many other parents have likely heard or given.
“Better get that workout in now, because once your daughter comes, your schedule is going to be completely upside down.”
And Mike, to his credit, said: “Nah, I’ve got this. I’ll still be able to get my workouts in.”
Several months later, Mike said to me: “Holy shit, J. You were right.”
It’s a hard thing to explain to others what your time looks like in this world when the only schedule that matters is your own.
Maybe you get in a relationship and your significant other has a schedule you have to factor in as well.
And yet, when you bring a little human into this world, something changes.
I don’t want to diminish or attempt to discredit the schedules of those who chose not to or are not able to have children. I know for a fact that they also have constraints on their schedules.
And, on the flipside, of the offspring conversation is another one.
Aging parents.
Parents who may be independent in many ways, but may be vulenerable, in one way or another, needing our help too.
It’s can be many things at one time: mentally, emotionally, physically and financially, taxing. Not to mention, the mere logistics of having to be here, there, this place, and that.
And in a world where everything appears to be flying past us at breakneck speed, we have to pencil some time in to do this whole self-care thing.
You know, the one where we have to nourish our bodies, find time to workout, have a stress management routine, and care for these people who mean so much to us.
It makes that whole “24 hour” cycle take on a different meaning.
The thing is, we have to be there for all of those things: our children, our partners, our parents, our friends, our fur-babies, and most of all, we have to be there for ourselves.
Otherwise, that person we see in the mirror won’t only become unrecognizable, we’ll struggle to find a sense of self again.
It’s also why the age old example taken from the instructions of the flight attendant are: In the event of an emergency, put the oxygen mask on yourself first.
Life is like that.
Yes, care for those around you.
And yes, care for you, too.
(Photo courtesy of Ika Ika)
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