“Day 4 of “The Journey Back to Self- Communication is Key”

There’s a reason why kids grow up and move out however Covid had different plans for us. Going from empty nester to full house through a pandemic has really tested my entire family.  So as part of a collective self-care mission, I called a family meeting. 

 Each member of the family got the exclusive stage to effectively express what they experienced as a problem and what they had hoped for as a solution. 

 I handed out pens and paper so each person could write down responses to everyone’s comments so there weren’t any interruptions.  This allowed each of us to hold space for one another, and to practice responsible listening.  With the exception of one or two outbursts, we actually did pretty well.

 The result was better than expected. At the end of the day, we all just want to be respected and heard and they want our feelings to be acknowledged. 

Effective communication is essential for growth and understanding (especially for people pleasers, control freaks and creatures of habit). 

So my 10 minutes of self-care turned into a few hours of some pretty valuable time with the people who matter the most to me.   

The energy shifted last night as we went back to basics.  

We rediscovered the meaning of family as we ate, talked, cleaned up and had family game night. 

 All is right in the world again.  It begins at home.  And to think, it all started with 10 minutes of self-care. 

Where will your 10 minutes lead you?