Learning to take care of me

Part 50 of the Leona Miller 14 Day Challenge began this morning.  There really is no need for me to count the days any more because this has become part of my self care.  Never have I been so devoted to me.  I can easily be devoted to my family. I'd sacrifice anything for them but feeling  that way about myself was a foreign concept.  How did I choose the path of this deep love and care for me?  For the most part, I was forced into this devotion to myself.  Now that my daughters are professional young women and my life as a widow is over 9 years long, I really had no choice.  I never want to be weak or unable to care for myself.  I want to be strong, fit and healthy.  It seems this spark started out of a little bit of fear.  The last thing I want is to be a burden to my girls.  I've done whatever I needed to bring them up healthy,  but the challenges of life made me feel it was ok to forget about me.  Being alone definitely changed my perspective.  So the 14 Day Challenge had to begin.  Now I devote my mornings to me.  It is mandatory and complete love, 7 days a week.  I don't do anything before I take care of me and complete my routine.   My challenge takes me about 30 minutes, followed up by a leisurely walk with my dogs while I drink a large container of cranberry water.  Before I head in the house I do a 1 minute plank and a couple minutes of stretching.  I follow this up with a healthy smoothing and green tea to savor during my meditation.  After my 30 minutes of meditation I have breakfast while reading my Rumi daily reading and my Bible devotion.  Finally, my work day begins.  In so many ways the challenges in my life have forced this routine on me as a need to survive and I am very pleased to do this for me.  I even planted the daffodils pictured above for me!  They are at the point where I begin my challenge every morning!