Last week I was thinking about age.  What does the word actually mean in my life? We are all getting older, whether we are 20, 40 or 70 that is true for each of us. This doesn’t mean that we are old, old is just a word used by people who are younger than we are. It is true that we may find there are things we can’t do as quickly as we used to. We might experience aches and pains, or forget things from time to time. If we take some time to think back to when we were younger we also had aches and pains, forgot things and faced various challenges.

Mental and physical health and self care is about celebrating the age we are. It is about embracing and loving ourselves. Each day, when we look in the mirror, what we see looking back at us, is the beauty and miracle that is our life, where we are at right in the present moment. If we only see the pain of the past we are missing the point and the fantastic opportunities available for us.

It has taken me over fifty years to be able to look in the mirror and see who I am now, rather than who I am not, what I haven’t done, who I should have been. I am pleased to say that as I am getting older I am also growing wiser, or at least growing in understanding.  When I look in the mirror, I don’t see old age, aged or any age at all. I see life’s journey and a wisdom, I see learning and teaching. I see many more years of celebrating life and those that matter.

Why am I sharing this? Because I think this is important for us to be okay with who we are, to love and celebrate the wonderful person we are. We can all benefit from not comparing ourselves to others or even to our younger selves. As we get older and wiser, we tend to be more at peace, more happier and healthier, when we let go of the pain and regret and the past.

Sleep and healing.

When we have trouble sleeping we can feel unwell, moody, tired, cranky, and achy. We find a whole range of niggles and pains, which can cause worry, anxiety and stress. The more we focus on these issues the worse we feel.

I have recently discovered, or realised, that sleep and rest is the perfect opportunity for self healing. As we go to sleep can we focus on our breathing and meditation, releasing and letting go of the negative aspects of our days and the past. We find things from our day to be grateful for, and consciously release and relax our muscles.

Oils to diffuse include – Cedarwood, Lavender, On Guard and Easy Air

Oils to apply on bottom of feet and spine – Vettiver and Cedarwood to feet and back of neck, nd Past Tense or In Tune on back of neck helps guarantee a restful night’s sleep.