Taking a hiatus to focus on "ME Time"

After two and a half years completing my Master's Degree and finishing up with three choreography projects in a row, it is time for me to take an artistic break for a while.  Living with that much stress has taken its toll on my health both physically and mentally.  I am ready to slow down a bit and have some personal life experience.  I want to do some exploring, reading, and nurturing of my soul.  I haven't been the friendliest person of late, and certainly not the most patient of wives or mothers.  One of the things I have learned after my latest bout of depression is that I have to take care of myself first.  But not only that, I have to LOVE myself first...meaning I deserve to focus on me.  I remember before my husband and my children, back during my college days, my entire day focused on what I wanted and dreamed about doing.  I would go to school, go to work, dance, take naps, read lots of novels, go out with friends, get massages, hang out at the river and go waterskiing...Oh to be young, a size 4 again, and single....
Once I met my husband all of that changed.  I need to be clear that that wasn't his fault in any way.  It just was my dysfunctional codependency making his needs and wants more important so that he would love me.  All the "ME Time" went by the wayside.
Does my husband love me?  Absolutely.  Twenty years have gone by and our love has grown and matured in so many ways after three children, a failed business endeavor, bankruptcy, and the death of loved ones.  But these stresses have torn me down mainly because I didn't take care of me in the process.  I now know that the most important thing is to take a little time out of everyday to nurture my body, mind, and soul.  Only then can I be the woman (mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, teacher, choreographer, and performer) that I truly want to be...someone who is gracious, loving, generous, giving, articulate, confident, and humble.
So that is my mission during my hiatus from project work right now...everyday I am going to do something that nurtures my mind, body, and soul.  So far, today, I worked out, I nested by cleaning my home, I spent time with each of my children, I laid on the couch and cuddled with my husband while watching our favorite TV show, I read a daily passage from my bible, I cooked my family a healthy and delicious dinner, and now I am sharing my thoughts here on this blog...hopefully, paying it forward to someone else who might find insight or comfort in my words.
I hope that any of you out there in Internet Land take time for yourself today, and learn that loving yourself first is what makes you the best person that you can be.

Here is my baby girl Angie and I, laying down for some cuddle time before bed. 

I love this little minx with all of my heart.