I shaved my legs this morning. I’m sure that is too much information to share but you need to know that it only happens once in a blue moon because I don’t normally take the time to do it. I love the way my skin feels when it is clean shaven and especially like to take a few extra moments and put on some nice lotion. It’s a really good way I can pamper myself. But is it pampering or is it simply trying to meet my need for self-recognition?

On a normal day, I make sure I am available to help my husband with his personal grooming then rush through my stuff to get on with the other things I need to be doing. I have to admit that there are days when I don’t even make it to the shower because something else seems more important. Caring for my home and my husband always sits at the top of my to do list, way above taking care of me, especially things that are simply cosmetic. I haven’t worn make-up since I quit working, my hair may get combed if I catch a glance of myself in a mirror. There must be a better way to approach my own self-care.

Getting back to my initial thought that sometimes it is the little things that count the most, it only takes a few minutes to shave my legs and put on lotion. It’s a small thing that makes me feel better and should be worth prioritizing. Recognizing the little things that I can do for myself during my day, and then acting on them, reinforces my own self-worth without taking away from my commitment to my husband. There are times when I can put myself first without endangering him or neglecting other duties. I need to take advantage of those little things and remember that it’s okay. A bit of self-care, wherever I can find it, is good for my mental health and helps prepare me for everything else that today will throw at me. It’s not pampering, it’s survival.