LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"We need to do a better job of putting ourselves "He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed." Albert Einstein

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

It's February and this month I'm going to share some quotes that talk about SELF CARE. You can read this month's posts HERE.

This quote from Einstein hit me the other day. He's talking about our ability to "wonder" at the world, even alluding to the "mystery" that's around us.

However the word that sticks out to me is the word PAUSE.

Pause defined can be this:

"a temporary stop in action or speech; interrupt action or speech briefly"

When was the last time you paused for something

This past weekend, Gina and I were on a walk in our neighborhood and the sky was stunning. We walked and talked about how beautiful it was then we just stopped to look at it. Of course I tried to capture a picture of it which didn't do it justice, but what a sight!

This past weekend, Gina and I were on a walk in our neighborhood and the sky was stunning. We walked and talked about how beautiful it was then we just stopped to look at it. Of course I tried to capture a picture of it which didn't do it justice, but what a sight!

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own 'to do' list." Michelle Obama

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

It's February and this month I'm going to share some quotes that talk about SELF CARE. You can read this month's posts HERE.

I am constantly chasing my list.

For me, I've learned that there are times that I need to just GET THINGS DONE and the best way to do that is to make a list. I don't live by a list every day, but when I need help in managing the chaos and driving my focus, a list really helps.

I've also learned that when I get into "list mode", often the most pressing things are moved to the top and the most variable things, or the less pressing things are moved to the bottom.

I've also learned that the bottom my list is often very negotiable, while the top of my list is non-negotiable.

Do you get the picture?

We all manage lists differently. Some of you only put things on your list that you need to do... the negotiable items don't even make the list.

All of that aside, Obama's quote here is a simple reminder to each of us in the area of self care that we need to keep putting ourselves ON THE LIST!

• Don't Continue To Compromise Your Needs!

• Don't Put Others First All of the Time: Take Care of Yourself.

• Sometimes, You Need to Fill Your Tank.

• Out of our Health, We Serve and Love Better!

  This morning, I started the day "making my list" and scheduling the day. It's a full day, a good day, and one I'm looking forward to. Then, I got a note from my son about heading to the gym, right in the middle of my already scheduled day. I had to make a choice: Work my list or Mess up my list in an effort to make myself better and stronger by paying attention to myself.

Many times, I keep working my list.

Today, I went to the gym.

Move yourself up your list! Learn to take care of yourself, you'll last longer and make a bigger impact.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"No one will take care of you if you don't take care of yourself." Alicia Keys

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

It's February and this month I'm going to share some quotes that talk about SELF CARE. You can read last months quotes on FOCUS HERE.

I recently saw that Alicia Keys won a "Global Impact Award" at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, and while I was looking up what that award was,I found this quote from her above.

I'm not sure why these words jumped out at me, but I want to spend the month looking a little deeper into this idea of "SELF CARE" and see if we can learn some things.

While the quote is kind of basic, the idea that our self care being up to us is something we need to be reminded of.

I recently heard a pastor preach out of John 6, and while he was focusing on the storms in life in vs. 16 - 21, I scanned the verse prior to that story, and it simply says this in vs. 15:

"Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself."

Jesus he just fed over 5000 people. People were clamoring to be around him. His disciples were in awe of all that he was doing and saying.

Yet, in the midst of all of this, "Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself."

Jesus had the ability to stop in the midst of a lot of activity and sometimes chaos, and he found time to be alone. Sometimes it was to pray, sometimes it was to rest and sometimes it was simply to get away.

He knew what he needed and he made it happen.

Did you notice the word AGAIN? Jesus made this a habit.

Do you know how to take care of yourself? What does that look like?