HOUSE OF ROBERTS BLOG

I am asking this question to you but also to me. I am not so good at intentionally taking time for myself! Our neighbor, Mr. Ray, is the biggest champion in asking me this question. He sees me doing all the things that make up my life, the comings and the goings of all we do, and always right when I haven’t thought about the question for a while, he will send a gentle reminder by asking “What have you done for YOU lately?” HA! I always feel so judged and sweetly seen all at the same time. Motivated and irritated all at the same time! I am so grateful for it because it almost seems like that question shakes me out of the “hustle trance” and reminds me that making sure that I am healthy and thriving is important to my holistic health. 

Sometimes…and don’t judge me for this…I will get so irritated with Michael when he asks me for time away to go golf or go see a movie, or whatever. I have this quick moment where I want to be so mad at him for asking this question. I’ll never forget this one day He asked me to go golf and I said yes but in my heart I was irritated because I knew that would mean me in the thick of it with the kids for 4.5 hours by myself. I remember huffing and puffing about it and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said “You could ask him for time away too…but you don’t” Weeeeellllll shoot, THAT is accurate. I immediately was aware that I never ask for time away and if I did Michael would graciously and supportively say "Yes, go, have fun!" All of a sudden this became a ME issue and not a MICHAEL issue! Hate when that happens…Ha! I really am so grateful for the Holy Spirit who calls me out on my stuff so that I don’t live in an unhealthy and darkened way. He will do the same for you if you let Him!

I’d love to tell you this revelation instantly jolted me into a place of self-care and immediately I became the happiest YES ma’am to Michael when he asked….but no! This is still a tension I manage. What it did do was open my eyes and give me a healthy perspective that I can’t deny. A perspective that calls me higher when I want to live lower. When he asks me, my lower self still kicks in but my higher self reminds me quickly this is good for him, as well as compels me to set the time aside for me as well. 

Maybe some of you are like me and this does not come naturally to you. Maybe you never saw your mom taking time for herself, or having hobbies, maybe you are a massive worker bee and never think to stop and enjoy life; this will be new territory to step into. It’s WORTH IT! Sometimes we get so mad at other people for knowing what they need simply because we don’t take enough time to stop and ask OURSELVES what do you need? 

This week pray and ask yourself (just like my sweet neighbor asks me) “When was the last time I did something for me?” “If I had to do something for me, what would I do?” Maybe it’s a hike, maybe it’s painting, maybe it’s learning something new, maybe it’s time with a special friend, maybe it's reading somewhere lovely, maybe it's shopping. Whatever it is schedule it out, take the time for yourself to fill up, get inspired, and be refreshed so that you can go back into marriage, family, work, and activities full and ready!