Healing Is Cute Until You’re Crying at Target
Healing and growing as a person has been portrayed as somewhat of an easy-liner journey that comes from cute Instagramable spa day posts. What is not cute is the meltdowns that randomly happen due to the minor inconveniences that come from the overwhelming need to stuff down your feelings and keep winning. Picture this you are carrying it all from working full-time to trying to be an awesome mom and trying to be a good spouse. Overall - that's a lot on your shoulders and a lot to handle. Now take a moment, and re-read, THAT IS A LOT TO HANDLE. Ultimately healing and taking care of yourself is not linear it's almost as crazy as my three-year-old.
At one point there was a time that I felt like everything was falling apart and I did have a meltdown in Target over something minor. I was lucky enough that the target employee I melted down on was a mom who had kids at home and saw through the meltdown. Did she give me encouraging advice - nope. She handed me what she looked like and said “As a mom, I get this, the sweets aisle is that way and wine is the next aisle over.” At that moment she was my guardian angel. Should I have probably recognized that this all could have been avoided by taking a few simple steps- so see below for my three baseline lifesavers.
Key steps to not crying in Target:
Eat! Make sure you are eating - even if it is just one of those squeeze packs.
Step away from the coffee - no I did not stutter caffeine is only going to make you faster and more anxious.
Do at least one thing for yourself - even if it is “grounding” yourself by being a floor person for a couple of minutes.
While it is just a few quick and simple things there is a need to take the time to reset. Something I learned quickly is a great quote that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Take the time to analyze what your body needs without that you will have your meltdown in target all because you can’t find the pimple patches. So with that save yourself the meltdown and that poor Target employee a rant by just checking in.
Summing up these three simple steps is easy on paper when my child is asleep and I have great support. Now asking me on a bad week when my clothes do not fit right - different story. Ultimately I try and sum up healing into a few simple things because without your baseline and as previously discussed your “emergency kit” it makes it a difference. Healing is not linear for sure but healing can be taking small steps to making a larger difference to tackle the bigger things. Increasing awareness and growth with little steps helps to make. Do not get bogged down by social media an the variety of ways that individuals glamour healing - it can be little steps to increase success. Learn to embrace the journey too- teach your kids about these things.
To sum it all up start small because it can make the largest impact - its better than not starting at all. Do not watch other peoples “healing journeys” they have the luxury of sponsors and sometimes more support. Always remember too that healing is not about being put together - its about being real. You owe it to yourself and those around you to be the best version of yourself.
Bribing toddler and briefing bosses - same skillset different snacks.
Dr. Strange