Self-Care is Kindness to Ourselves
Self-Care asks us to give the same kindness to ourselves that we give to others.
When you have negative or critical thoughts about yourself, stop for a moment and ask yourself this: “Would I say these things about a good friend?”
The chances are that you would not. You would not be unkind to someone else.
Now, try being as kind to yourself as you would to a loved one.
The next time things go wrong, accept the event for what it is. Then, apologize for what happened if that’s appropriate. Then, forgive yourself.
Learning from mistakes and moving on is a positive way to get through life.
Forgiving yourself is what allows you to get through life. When you forgive yourself, you are being nice to yourself. It’s easier to be happy that way.
When you forgive yourself, you are offering self-care. This sends nourishing messages to the brain about your self-worth.
Try, every day, to care for yourself in every way possible.
When stress accumulates, this facial massage meditation will relieve muscles and leave you feeling better.
Facial Massage Meditation
For many of us, the day’s stress accumulates in the muscles of the head, face, and jaw. Massaging your face and head can smooth the tiny muscles and nerve endings. Stress and fatigue will have a chance to disappear.
Begin this meditation by finding a quiet place where you will be undisturbed for a few minutes.
Lie flat on a chair, bed, or floor, with your face up. If that is not comfortable, find a comfortable chair or recliner to sit comfortably.
Cover your body with a light blanket or sheet so you won’t get cold as your body relaxes and cools.
Take several deep breaths. Begin these breaths in your abdominal area. Breathe in deeply and hold the breath to the count of three: 1 – 2 – 3.
Now slowly release the breath. When you exhale, you release toxins and stress.
Repeat these inhalations and exhalations 1-2 minutes. As you inhale, you l breathe in healthy air. With each exhalation, you release toxins and stress.
Become aware of your forehead. Mentally relax your forehead to erase wrinkles of expression…the space between your eyebrows becomes bigger. Your eyelids are heavy.
Move your fingers to your forehead and slowly massage it in small circles.
When you feel that your forehead is becoming relaxed, move your fingers to your temples and gently move them in clockwise and counterclockwise motions. Feel this area relaxing.
Notice the tension behind your eyes, and around your eyes and release it.
Now, place your fingers on your temples and move your fingers in small, gentle dime-size circles for a few minutes.
Move your fingers down to your chin and gently, gently pinch your chin and along your jawline to your ears.
Now, move your hands to your cheeks. Massage your soft cheek tissue in a circular motion.
Now, move your hands to your ears. Gently massage along the edges of your ears for a couple of moments. Now, give your ears some long, luscious pulls.
You are finishing your facial massage now. Notice any thoughts, feelings, or sensations you experience now.
Stay quiet for 1-2 minutes while you enjoy and refresh from this experience.
It is time now to return to the present time.
It is okay to return to this place of calm whenever you need.
The goal of this meditation is to experience calm and relaxation using self-touch.
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Thank you for reading this article. I sincerely hope it helps you feel better about yourself and those around you.
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This book is now available as an ebook and should be available as paperbook before December 15th. Order it on thurmangreco.com.
I host “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco”, a program aired weekly on Woodstock’s own educational TV channel 23. This show is an informative, upbeat hour with no rehearsals.
My guests are various people whose lives have brought them to Woodstock for a day, a week, an hour, a decade, or more. Let’s Live has been running for over 15 years with an occasional intermission, now and then. You can find some reruns on YouTube “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco”.
Renee, our channel wizard adds new programs weekly, usually on Tuesdays..
The Friday evening show airs in Woodstock at 7:00 in the studio located in the Woodstock Community Center on Rock City Road for an hour.
Renee and I both look forward to new subscribers.
Leaving Baggage Behind – No Regrets
Have you ever thought about spiritually cleaning out your closet? cleaning your house?
I got up early this morning because I wanted a few minutes to clean out a closet. Yesterday I promised a friend that I would share some gently used items for her fund raiser.
When I make a promise like that, it’s best that I set a few minutes aside and then work like crazy to get rid of things as quickly as possible.
Working in a fury, I stuffed items in a bag so quickly that I couldn’t overthink the situation. I also knew that I didn’t have time to put things back.
I just grabbed: a white blouse I hadn’t worn in years, a pair of slacks that were never comfortable, 3 T-shirts I was never going to wear again. A new winter coat.
On and on it went. I didn’t give myself time to think I just might, in a pinch, wear one of these items again. I even threw in a pot plant that was still pretty but quickly growing beyond my skill level.
As I stuffed these things in the car, with the plant perched on top of the clothes, I thought about maybe I should have done something like this with some of my other spiritual baggage.
Specifically, I thought of off those regrets I’ve been reliving lately.
We all carry it. Baggage.
Sometimes I feel like I would like to just leave it all behind me as I go through life: Grudges, resentments, painful memories, regrets.
I’ve been carrying all this baggage around with me for decades and decades. Then, a young woman reminded me that we all have baggage.
Sometimes, I just want to leave it all behind.
Other times, getting to a place where I can let go is difficult.
One thing she taught me: forgiveness is a large part of the journey. Leaving all these parcels and bags and boxes of regret is hard.
But, so was gathering all the experiences that became painful memories.
I’m hanging onto all this negativity. It’s making extra weight which I carry around all day, every day, I tried to think of what might be a good way to do this so I went to my roots.
What is going to work?
Eureka! Forgiveness will be important here.
I went to my roots for success! I got out my asphidity bag!
When I’m working on healing an issue, I write a description on a small paper and put it in my asphidity bag. I wear it around my neck to remind me that I’m healing.
Freedom is a goal!
When I have my healing goals in my asphidity bag, I know it’s time to schedule extra weekly Reiki therapy
and Reflexology sessions.
If you have friends who might enjoy this post, please forward it to your favorite social media network and to your friends.
For more information, check out my books at thurmangreco.com.
Most of my books are available in ebook form as well as paperbook. “But for Gabriel” should be available in December.
Renee posts new segments to “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” on Tuesdays. are posted. Let me know how you like them!
Thanks again!
Thurman Greco
What to do When it all Gets to be Too Much: Switch Off The Day
The times are overwhelming. It’s as if everyone is “always on”. I find that when I’m always connected, things can quit working. When I’m always connected, I find myself staring at screens, answering every door bell and phone ring.
When things quit working, one of the most effective things I do is switch everything off. This includes me. I switch off – both physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
I turn off electronic devices. The phone goes off. The computer shuts down. The TV is off. I turn off all the lights.
And, you know what? almost everything works better after I’ve unplugged it for a few minutes. And, that includes me.
And, then, I get in my most comfortable chair and give myself a Reiki therapy session.
I begin the session with the symbols and three hand positions to my head. My intention is to relax so that I won’t be so fatigued and overwhelmed.
Now…I know that switching everything off can be difficult. In some cases, it’s impossible. I also know that there comes a time when saying “no” is not selfish.
An important lesson I had to learn as an adult is that when everybody is getting oxygen masks, we sometimes each need to get our own oxygen mask first so we can make sure everyone else is being properly cared for.
So, becoming comfortable with “no” and “off” is something that I had to learn in life.
A life lesson I had to learn was that some people stress me out. Learning to recognize stressor people and situations was (is) important. Once stressors are are recognized, it is easy to avoid them.
Life is more pleasant, less complicated, and easier when stressors are recognized and minimized.
Reiki sessions help. Both Reiki and reflexology promote relaxation and a more positive outlook.
Emergency Reiki sessions are a dramatic improvement. They work even better when they are a supplement to regularly scheduled Reiki therapy sessions.
I invite you to connect with me on Facebook
If you who have friends and relatives who might enjoy this post, please share it to your favorite social media network and to your friends and relatives.
For more info, check out my books at Thurmangreco.com. every title is available in hard copy and ebook with the exception of the first edition of “But for Gabriel” This book is available as an ebook only until December.
PLEASE don’t forget to schedule regular Reiki therapy and reflexology sessions.
Please check out the YOUTUBE channel show. New episodes are released on Tuesdays. “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” is a positive, entertaining series of interviews which I’ve conducted throughout the last 15 or so years. There have been a few intermissions along the way, but not many.
My guests enjoy being on the show and many ask to return. One thing they all have in common: we’ve all met each other somehow in Woodstock, NY
Join us soon!
And, let us know how you like the shows.
Finding Time
My schedule is packed. It’s jammed.
But, that’s okay. It’s an uptown problem.
Each day, I know I’m going to find some real jewels throughout my schedule.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is this: When my schedule is totally out of control, the universe will deal with the situation. Someone will cancel or something quirky will happen which will result in a beautiful hole.
Finding time is like finding a wonderful, shiny object.
It’s not so important to worry about what or when or how much time you’re going to find..
Those are details.
What’s important is to be prepared…
Know what you’re going to do when you find a few extra 5 or 6 minutes or maybe even a whole hour. These are perfect moments in your day that can be used however you want. Make your “found time” list.
Get lost in a book.
Go for a quick stroll.
Sip a tea.
Meditate.
Plan.
Journal.
Stare out the window – even if you’re not in front of a window.
Disconnect.
Switch off.
Whatever you do with these “found” moments, the important thing is to carve out these pockets of time for yourself.
Thanks for reading this article. Please forward it to your favorite social media network and share it with your friends.
Please check out the YOUTUBE channel show. New episodes are released on Tuesdays.
“Let’s Live with Thurman Greco is a positive, entertaining series of interviews which I’ve conducted throughout the last 15 or so years. There have been a few intermissions along the way, but not many.
My guests enjoy being on the show and many ask to return. One thing they all have in common: we’ve all met each other somehow in Woodstock, NY.
Join us soon!
And, let us know how you like the shows.
Find out more at www.thurmangreco.com. While you’re there, see what books might interest you. Every title is available in hard copy and ebook with exception of the first edition of “But for Gabriel”. This book is available as an ebook only until December.
But, whatever happens, get reflexology into your schedule.
Now is the time to focus self-care on flu prevention.
I went over to the Village Apothecary yesterday and got a flu vaccine. Two weeks ago, I went over there and got the RSV injection.
With our busy and overcrowded lives, vaccines are easy to push off into nowhere. That is not a good policy. So, I’m here to remind you:
Don’t forget your vaccines. Now is the time to prevent flu, RSV, and Covid.
My recommendation is that if you are 60 or older, you should get your RSV vaccine NOW.
You can even get both the RSV and your flu vaccine at the same time.
I opted to get my two vaccines two weeks apart because I got the “high dose” version of the flu vaccine.
I scheduled a Reiki therapy session after each vaccination.
Get your COVID vaccine as soon as it is available.
Hopefully a big demand will emerge in your community with your pharmacy going gangbusters for a couple of weeks. And, hopefully there will not be a need for an appointment.
After you’ve gotten your vaccines, please do three more things:
Mark your calendar to receive your boosters in April.
Get your shingles, and pneumonia vaccines. ,
Collect herbs which you feel are relevant to your good health and put them in a small bag or tie them in a small cloth. Now, place this bag, in your asphidity bag, and wear it around your neck or keep in a pocket.
Finally, do a fun thing.
And, one more thing. Give yourself a treat!
Thanks for reading this article! If you want more info, contact me at thurmangreco.com.
Please forward this article to your social media network and to your family and friends.
Regular Reflexology and/or Reiki therapy sessions offer healing. 
If you enjoy the blog posts, you’ll enjoy my weekly shows on YOUTUBE. This program has been running, with a few timeouts, now and then, for over 15 years. My program is an entertaining and informative hour with no rehearsals. You can find it on Woodstock’s own TV channel 23 or on YOUTUBE.
My guests are people whose lives have brought them to Woodstock for a day, a week, an hour, a decade or more.
I can truthfully boast that my guests report they enjoyed the experience and will be happy to return. Both the blog and the show are a means to healing for viewers and healers.
Check out my books at www.thurmangreco.com. They make wonderful gifts.
This book has gone out to 36 countries so far.
Thank you to everyone who got 1 or more copies!
4 Things to Do for a Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep is crucial for your good health. Sleep brings self-care. It repairs and restores your body.
4 THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
Schedule a healing bodywork session weekly.
I prefer reflexology or Reiki. There are hundreds of different modalities to choose from. If a weekly session is beyond your budget, learn Reiki. Then, you can offer a session to yourself weekly OR you can do regular exchanges with another Reiki practitioner.
Explore and sample herbs and teas.
Cut back on coffee or caffeinated drinks in the afternoons. Substitute decaffeinated beverages. There are so many options that you’ll be able to spend several weeks sampling different teas and drinks. Enjoy!
Create a happy and peaceful place for sleep.
During the coming week, do everything you can to create a quiet and cozy atmosphere. Your goal is a minimal decor with dim lighting, subdued colors and a comfortable bed with soft sheets and blankets. Relocate anything which induces irritability. This includes computers, televisions, and anything that generates electromagnetic fields and positive ions.
Stretch Yourself to Sleep + a Snack
About 30 or so minutes before you go to sleep, focus on unwinding and relaxing tensions. Prepare yourself to sleep:
Breathe deeply and rotate your head gently from side to side.
Slowly raise your arms above your head and stretch them to the sky.
Rotate your spine in different directions while gently moving your head and arms in opposing directions.
Give yourself a few extra minutes to relax.
Have a cup of yogurt for a snooze snack.
You can discover more information on sleep in older posts of this blog.
Thanks for reading this blog post!
This book is available on www.thurmangreco.com. Copies of this book have traveled to readers in over three dozen countries.
Visit the website, www.thurmangreco.com, and see what other books might interest you. The first edition of “But for Gabriel” is available now as an ebook. It is also being read on YOUTUBE.
This ebook is available at www.thurmangreco.com. Bookmarks are available for the asking. You can also hear the story at “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco”. ENJOY! “But for Gabriel” is a story based on the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ written for those who don’t follow and may not believe.
This video guides you through a basic reflexology session. It explains how reflexology works and what you are doing for the recipient’s feet and body. This video is available for you to use whenever you need it.
You can reach it at www.thurmangreco.com.
You may also enjoy the YOUTUBE shows: “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco”
I hope you have aa chance to visit this YOUTUBE channel. “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” is a positive, entertaining series of interviews which I’ve conducted throughout the last 15 or so years. There have been a few intermissions, but not many.
My guests enjoy being on the show and many ask to return. One thing we all have in common: we’ve all met each other somehow in Woodstock, NY.
Join us soon!
And, let us know how you like the shows.
Connect with me on Facebook.
If you have friends who might enjoy this post, please forward it to your favorite social media network.
Thank you.
Thurman Greco
For Self-Care: Visualize a Successful Day
Take a little time each morning visualizing a successful day. These few moments will create a mental picture you can use to create your real-life action throughout your day.
Take a few deep cleansing breaths.
Perhaps you may want to listen to meditation music.
For a few (3-5) minutes, use all of your senses to visualize your dreams and desires coming to life.
End this short meditation with a few more deep breaths.
As you practice this daily visualization, it will become more powerful. The visualization will become bigger, brighter, and louder.
When you have made this morning visualization a habit, you may notice that your visualization becomes more real to your mind.
At the end of each day, write down your observations. Are you feeling more positive? Are more opportunities coming your way? How is your visualization becoming more real?
With these morning success visualizations, you will be on track to achieve the success you visualize.
Support your visualization intention by taking an action each week to help you progress. Your inspired weekly action toward your goal of a successful day will energize you to achieve your goal.
Thanks for reading this blog post. If you think it’s appropriate, please share it with friends and family. Forward it to your preferred social media network.
If you enjoy this blog post, please watch “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco”. This show is a positive, entertaining series of interviews which I’ve conducted throughout the last 15 or so years. There have been a few intermissions, but not many.
My guests enjoy being on the show and many ask to return. One thing they all have in common: we’ve all met each other somehow in Woodstock, NY.
Join us soon!
And, let us know how you like the shows.
For information about my books, please go to www.thurmangreco.com. You can also find readings from some of my books on the YOUTUBE videos.
This book is available at www.thurmangreco.com. Visit the website and see what books might interest you.
When I write the blog posts, it is my intention to be a conduit for your own healing.
Be Careful What You Wish For: Goal-Setting is Self-Care
We set goals daily.
We set goals when we decide when and where we’ll buy groceries.
We set goals when we schedule our days and weeks.
For some reason, I sometimes wonder why we leave the big things to themselves. It makes no sense. When we postpone goal setting, we run a real chance of experiencing something that makes us deeply unhappy.
I know many people working in dream jobs that are really working in nightmare jobs.
So, whether you are seeking a new job, more money, a successful diet, or that perfect home, be as clear about what you want as you can. Clarity and detail count for a lot when you communicate with the universe.
Use a Goal-Setting Journal
In the first chapter of your Goal-Setting Journal, describe whatever you are willing to do to achieve your goal. Are you looking for a new house or a job or a new friend?
Describe your goal with as much detail as you can. You are not just looking for your dream job. You are looking for a job that will allow you to perform specific tasks which you want to participate in.
Explain your job description. Where is your dream job going to be located? What are the hours? What kind of person will you work for? What will your co-workers be like? What will your space look like? How much will it pay?
Write down your intentions with as much detail as you can. This is how you will bring your goal to life. Be as long and as specific as you can.
Describe what you’re willing to do to get this dream job. Do you have the proper training? Do you need to update your resume?
Focus in and get detail-oriented. The more narrowly you focus, the more powerful your intention will be.
Finally, embrace that dream! Think about all the things you can achieve. Be as clear as possible.
While you are on your path, keep yourself grounded and focused. Include regular healing sessions such as reflexology and Reiki therapy. Throughout my life, I’ve proven to myself that regular sessions help – a lot.
Thank you for reading this blog post. My intention is that each blog post you read can be a conduit for your spiritual growth and healing.
Please forward this article to your preferred social media network and share it with your friends and relatives.
I also hope you’ve had a chance to visit this YOUTUBE channel. “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” is a positive, entertaining series of interviews which I’ve conducted throughout the last 15 or so years. There have been a few intermissions, but not many.
My guests enjoy being on the show and many ask to return. One thing they all have in common: we’ve all met each other somehow in Woodstock, NY.
Join us soon!
And, let us know how you like the shows.
Thanks again!
Thurman Greco
Meditation is Self-Care: 3 Ways to Improve Your Meditation Practice
Meditation is one of the best ways I know to deepen your intuition, reduce medical and psychiatric symptoms, and quiet your anxieties,
Three props to improve your meditation practice:
Create a quiet, soothing meditation area. This is, for me, basic.
A bell or chime to open your meditation session is important.
Take a few deep breaths and clear your mind.
Using a timer to let you know that your session is coming to an end is helpful. This timer can a quiet tone or beads which you hold in your hands.
Through the years, I’ve posted meditation articles on this blog. (Find them in the search section).
I’ve also recommended several books:
My favorites are three meditation books written by Larry Moen. They are:
Meditations for Awakening
Meditations for Transformation
Meditations for Healing
Today, in this article, I share a new meditation which I’m calling “A Perfect Place”. In this meditation, you create your own perfect place.
Begin with a few deep breaths to clear your mind.
Wait a moment and then imagine yourself in a perfect place, designed just for you. Look around and ask yourself:
What is around you? Are you inside or outside?
Do you see buildings, mountains, roadways, lakes, streams?
Or, do you see a room with a chair waiting for you? Do you see a meeting hall?
What is the weather like outside? Is it snowing, raining, Or is the sun shining?
Do you see people? Are they beside you? Are they smiling or looking away?
Who are these people? How many are they? What are they doing? Is someone coming over to join you?
Are there any animals? Are they pets? Are they wild animals? How are you connected to them?
What are you doing now? Are you walking along a path? Are you sitting on a bench? Are you in a seat in a theater? Are you alone or with others – humans or animals?
Is this place familiar to you? Do you feel you have ever been here before? Is this space somewhere you have visited in the past? Have you dreamed about it?
How do you feel in this space?
What are you wearing?
Sit for a few moments and let yourself become adjusted to your surroundings. Breathe in the perfect air. Enjoy this perfect place.
You may want to make some notes – or draw a quick sketch even.
Now, check in with yourself – your thoughts, your feelings. What is happening with your inner self?
Now, take one long, last look around. This is your place. It will always be yours. You know that you may return here any time you want.
After a short time, you know it is time to return to your space before your meditation.
You can return to this meditation whenever you want.
Now, take another deep breath and return. Open your eyes gently and slowly and gently move and stretch.
Thank you for participating in this meditation. If it is appropriate, please share it with friends and family. Forward it to your preferred social media network.
If you enjoy these blog posts, please subscribe.
This book is available at www.thurmangreco.com.
Thank you for reading this article. Thanks for sharing this article.
Thurman Greco
3 Ways Self-Care Helps + 5 Things to Ease Your Toxic Overload
Self-care is part of my daily life. Practicing self-care develops personal happiness. It honors a balance between personal life and career.
Self-care offers things that are important in daily life. But, that’s not all. Self-care activities diminish burnout, stress, and fatigue.
Occasionally, I review my physical, mental, and spiritual toxicity to boost my self-care agenda. Actually, a toxicity review is good for everyone, whether or not self-care is the issue.
To pamper myself, I’ll declare a detox week.
Your body continually self-cleans. But, sometimes this process needs a focus and boost because of the hordes of chemicals confronting the liver, lungs, kidneys, fat cells, intestines, bloodstream, and skin.
Toxins come in many forms: too much sugar, caffeine, and processed foods.
They also invade us through pesticides in the produce we eat, formaldehyde in carpets and cosmetics, plastics, and paper products.
I’ll start off a detox week with a water flush, drinking filtered water to cleanse my tissues. (I normally drink filtered water but, with a detox week, I’ll add a variety of waters which I get at the health food store. I also drink some of the Saratoga Springs Waters.) And, I’ll alternate my water with herbal teas to support my liver, lymphatic system, bowels, urinary tract and skin.
DRINK 8 GLASSES OF WATER
DRINK 2 CUPS OF HERBAL TEA
For a fresh-air treat, I go to my local garden center and buy a new plant to help detox my home. I love ferns. Truthfully, I love any plant that I can grow. I started growing houseplants during the pandemic. I definitely don’t have a green thumb but I’ve managed to collect plants which are surviving in my home. The oxygen they produce is important.
GET A PLANT FOR FRESH AIR
My detox week includes a daily cleansing walk, a short 20-30 minute walk I take in my neighborhood to breathe fresh air and enjoy my community.
TAKE A 20-MINUTE WALK
Finally, I include breathing properly to dispel toxins and wastes. When I celebrate a detox week, I set aside time each day to practice deep, slow, rhythmic breathing. This clears my mind, lifts my energy, and boosts my mood.
TAKE 10 CLEANSING BREATHS
SCHEDULE A WEEKLY REIKI OR REFLEXOLOGY SESSION
Reiki and Reflexology work well with a detox week. Include one session for the week or, if time permits, include a daily session.
Thank you for reading this article. Please share it with your friends and family. Forward it to your favorite social media network.
Find out more about Thurman Greco at www.thurmangreco.com. You can purchase Thurman’s books in both ebook and paperbook form. ENJOY!
So far, “A Healer’s Handbook” has gone out to readers in over 30 countries.
Explore more about self-care in “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” YOUTUBE productions.
SARATOGA SPRINGS STATE PARK
PS – Because I live in the Hudson Valley of New York, I’m close enough to Saratoga Springs to benefit from the many mineral springs located throughout the Saratoga State Park. If you ever get the chance to visit this area, just north of Albany, be sure to visit a few of the springs. Maps are available as well as descriptions of the waters found at each one.
Tours of the springs are scheduled regularly. Join in the fun if you are in the area!
www.parks.ny.gov
