Isn't it lovely?

The wedding turned out better than expected. All the in-laws were there, including the exes. So it was a good time to test exactly how well you can stand up when you'd rather sit down. Everything went well. Amazingly enough, there were no crazy drunks coming out of the woodwork.

At the end of it all, however, I knew I'd had enough of dealing with my ex. My bet is my daughter's new MIL--and I know her well--had had enough as well. But there were no cat fights or dog fights or anything even remotely brawlish.

It was all good.

And my daughter looked absolutely lovely, stunning even, in her ivory gown with the green trim. She was definitely princess for a day.

And don't all women deserve to feel that grand?

On the days when you're not feeling like a princess--or a prince, if you're male--what kinds of things do you do to pull yourself back up? Do you have a personal prescription that comes in handy. I'm not talking Rx. I'm referring to something that you actually do. We can't all go and get married every time we're feeling less than the princesses we know we really are. So what do you do?

Here's a list to get you thinking about your own nurturing methods:

Exercise--I love to ride my bike, obviously, and I love going for long walks up the mountain near my home. It gives me the time I need to free my mind or concentrate on something that needs more mental attention.

Nails--I'm not big on manicures, but I think I'm going to start filing and painting them more often. I like when they look nice. But I haven't taken much time to focus on that. So, instead of just rubbing this beeswax cuticle ointment on my nails that I like, I'm going to spend more time taking care of my nails. It's relaxing.

Food--I am not the best cook. I'm not even a consistent cook, but I find that when I plan a meal in advance and buy all the ingredients, I really enjoy the process of putting it all together. The finished product? Even better. I love home cooked meals.

Books--I'm an avid reader. Books, magazines and newspapers are some of my greatest friends. I know that reading a book (novel, self-help, anything that interests me) can always put me in a relaxing mood. This kind of escape also allows my creative mind to process new ideas for stories to pitch to editors.

Movies--I'm a picky movie-goer. I don't just want to go to the movies. I want to be entertained, without the gore or too much suspense. So I'll go see a comedy or a drama of some sort, or watch old movies on TV. Crying during a movie is a good way to release pent-up stress you may not even have known you had.

My son came home for his sister's wedding and told me something that really thrilled me. He told me he'd been playing a lot of basketball again, that he was back to drawing (He's really good at pencil drawing.) again, and that he was writing a lot and playing around with writing some comedy sketches. I told him, "That's wonderful. You're returning to your childhood passions." His response, "Yeah, I think you're right. And I'm happy."

There are a number of ways to nurture the mind, body and soul. Experimenting with your childhood interests, especially, will help you find what works best for you. When you make self-nurturing a daily habit, you'll naturally know the answer to this question:

Isn't life lovely?

All my best,
Jackie

"You've Got a Friend"

That's the name of the song that I was referring to..."You've Got a Friend." Can you hear the words in your head? As a child, I think it was Dionne Warwick I heard sing that song on the radio. I remember singing it at my eighth grade graduation. It marked a new beginning.

Music has a way of lifting us up in our darkest hour, doesn't it? It also can turn the tears on, if the right song appears at just the right moment. We connect with the sounds, the words, the harmony. There are certain songs that I bet you'll never forget, songs that evoke very specific memories. Music as a healing mechanism works very well for this reason. It helps you connect thoughts to feelings so that you can release energy that needs to be let go.

During your rides, I imagine you might have tapped into some music from your past. A song may sit in the subconscious, just waiting to be released at the perfect moment, to provide the needed comfort.

Our bodies really do know what we need to nurture it. The key is to tune in and be willing to listen.

Let that be the thought that carries you into your weekend.

We'll talk more next week.
~Jackie