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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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.
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13 Things I Learned from Animals about Self-Care
For me, animals are all about self-care.
1. Since learning animal communication in the 1990s, animals of all shapes and sizes, both as pets or as creatures living in the wild, have taught me they choose to be a part of our lives.
Whether a dog, cat, or squirrel in a tree, they present themselves to us in ways that attract our attention.
2. They are here to care for us. When I experience periods of difficulty and challenge, they see themselves as a caregiver during that time.
3. Pets in your life hear, see, and understand everything that happens. Cats, in particular, are tuned into conversations and daily activities.
4. Animals are not colorblind. They see things in color. They do see things in a different way from how we as humans see them. That’s to be expected. After all, their eyes are located in different parts of their faces. Their eyes are different sizes depending on the animal.
That means they see more things in more ways than humans. Several animals have discussed auras with me. One, a llama, used aura recognition daily. If he didn’t like a person’s aura, he didn’t like the person. End of subject.
For some, the colors have meanings. It all depends on the animal. These colors may have spiritual value. Or, they may be perceived as protection.
5. Your pets also see orbs and other things invisible to our human eyes. They see spirits in and around the house. Some dogs bark at them. Others do not.
6. When you bring home a new puppy, he quickly decides what he needs to do to be a successful member of the household. One breed, a bichon, seems to do this a little better than other breeds.
7. Horses are very wise and beautiful creatures. Our communication experiences revealed intelligent, spiritual, creative beings who are conscious of the current conditions of the health of our planet.
8. Dogs can be very aware of the human’s situation. I’ve met several poodles who were in a traumatic household situation. As the human became more stressed, the dog became more grounded. This grounding was important to the successful outcome of a situation.
9. I like to attune the animals when I am attuning a person at a Reiki class. This is especially helpful if there is an ill person in the household.
When I do an attunement, I give an attunement to each pet in the household. I do not charge extra for this. I simply offer the attunement to encourage the healing process.
10. Animals are not afraid of death. When I discuss death with animals, I learn that they remember past lives. They remember why they are in embodiment at this time.
11. Animals, for whatever reason, prefer truth. They believe it. They share it.
12. Animals know about forgiveness. They practice forgiveness. They live forgiveness. This knowledge and practice of forgiveness allows them to love their humans unconditionally.
13. Goats are good communicators. My experience with them has been they like to tell the truth – no matter what that is.
A goat named Tyler Too taught me to communicate. After a few conversations, he communicated with me honestly that animal communication would not be my primary career path. He told me that I was a healer.
And, of course, Tyler turned out to be correct.
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If you want to learn more, please explore both old blog posts and the YOUTUBE shows.
Self-care can be healing. We are all healers. I am here to be a conduit for your own healing. 
Regular, or even occasional reflexology sessions help.
Do you practice Reiki therapy? Share it with an animal.
Find out more at www.thurmangreco.com.
Thanks, Thurman Greco
