Today’s post is as frivolous as last night’s was heavy. It’s a good balance, right?
Today I did one of my very favorite things – a mani/pedi. I love pretty nails. They make me feel more polished and put together. You can choose whatever colors you want. And the whole experience is just luxuriating.
When I walk in the door of my local spa (and I use the term spa loosely here – it’s in a strip mall and not fancy, but I like the ladies who run it), I am in immediate relaxation zone. There is no checking my phone (unless urgent message from my kids). There is no responding to emails piling up in my inbox (even though it can be tempting to multi-task). There is no talking. There is simply just sitting, getting pampered. While I watch HGTV on infinite loop. They massage your feet, legs, arms, shoulders and hands. It’s really pretty much heaven.
While I was getting my nails down today, I nearly fell asleep. Multiple times. Head nodding in the big comfy chair. The poor woman that was holding my hand to paint my fingernails had to prop it up multiple times. That, my friends, is total relaxation.
Of course, like many ordinary things, the mani/pedi experience is extraordinary to me. Symbolic of the importance of prioritizing myself.
Years ago when my kids were smaller, I would get to the end of the week-end and be completely wiped out. I worked hard at work, played hard at being a mom, and was 100% present for both. Then you throw in the house/life stuff like laundry, groceries, etc. and I would be exhausted rather than refreshed. I took great pride in my ability to juggle being a great mom with a career until I finally realized I was dropping a very important ball – myself.
I would pause and try to remember what I had done to relax and recharge over the week-end. As I finished the week’s laundry at 10pm after the kids went to bed. For weeks I literally couldn’t think of anything. Except a run here or there, which was for me, but also just important for health.
So one Sunday I decided to try something new. I decided to paint my nails after I put the kids to bed. So silly that it had to even be a decision. But it became symbolic. You can’t work on the family calendar with wet fingernails. Or fold laundry. Or do a million chores. Or send email. Instead, you have to sit still. It’s forced relaxation. So I started painting my nails every Sunday night. I enjoyed having pretty hands and I loved the discipline of my forced relaxation.
This sounds incredibly lame as I type this, but I swear it worked! It was the first time I looked up after becoming a mom and reminded myself that I, too, matter. I deserve to be happy, I deserve to be refreshed, and I deserve to do things – even frivolous things – if they bring me joy.
Since then, I’ve found more ways to prioritize myself along the way. A few years ago I switched from self mani’s to my little neighborhood spa. With the advent shellac (a special polish), I really only need to go once every three weeks. Which is super efficient. But I miss my Sunday night discipline a bit. Not enough to skip the spa, but the lesson remains.
The lesson here is not the importance of pretty nails. It’s about prioritizing yourself. Making time to do something that makes you happy. Because we are all so worth it.
So here’s to doing whatever you want – at least a little bit each day. I don’t view this as a weakness or luxury. I view it as fortitude, strength and that’s right, the toughness, to know that you matter too.
The Redefining 