Permission to be selfish?

Shhhhh...

I've been quiet these days, and it's made me simultaneously calm and anxious. I've been looking forward to this Kindness Challenge so much with

@gregscloud and the Kindness Community - and a few weeks ago, I would haven't have had a clue that most of the kindness that I was spending, would have to be directed inward more than outward.

"You have to give yourself permission to be selfish."

Have you ever heard that phrase? I don't like it. haha I really don't. I understand the sentiment behind it - but I think it's got a negative connotation. Selfishness is a negative quality. Caring for yourself is a positive thing. I think when we tell people that they have to "give themselves permission to be selfish" we're actually reinforcing that CARING FOR THEMSELVES is a selfishly motivated action. And it's not.

It's generous.
It's necessary.
It's loving.
It's kind.

To yourself. It's a beautiful thing to be selfless with others, but it is just as beautiful to lavish yourself in well-needed care and concern. Taking time away from the stress and strain that surrounds us daily - is a thing that requires wisdom, balance, and confidence.

I lack all three of those things, because I rarely will pause and tend to this very human body and mind of mine.

The last few weeks have required me to not only pause - but stop. It's been scary. It truly has. There were days when I panicked - thinking "but who is manning the helm for DreemPort?" And then I looked into the hallways and rooms and saw our beautiful "teem" doing what they do best. Caring for others, helping and guiding, standing in the gap - and I took a deep sigh of relief and was so grateful for this God-given gift of this amazing Dreem Teem.

@gregscloud - we spoke earlier, and you reassured me that I never had to apologize for taking time away. And that KINDNESS given to me, by you - was exactly what I needed. I thought this month would be so much different for me - but it was JUST what I needed. And your "self-kindness" prompts were such a blessing for me to wrap around me like a warm, fluffy blanket. Thank you for going above and beyond this month to exude Kindness from every pore! You are the epitome of it, Sir - and we are so grateful to have experienced this journey with you!!

I peeked at the prompts this week, and my inclination is that this post is really pointed more towards the "what I'm giving to the future generations of kindness." My daughter is so much like me. She goes and goes, and gives so much more than she ever receives. I love that she has this gift of generosity - but I hope that I can help her to see that she is just as worthy of that generosity from others - and more importantly, herself. I don't want to diminish her desire for giving to others. I just want her to balance it out with luxurious amounts of love for her beautiful self as well.

Thank you, once again,

@gregscloud for SHOWING us kindness in action this month. You are so appreciated!!! I hope that what you gave us takes root and bears fruit for years to come in our dreemer family!