"Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is atainable, and you are worth the effort."
-Deborah Day

Lately, I have found myself hearing so many people telling others, "Girl you need to take care of yourself! Self-care, Self-care!" And while I think it is honorable to recommend to someone that they put themselves first, some people simply don't know what it is they need in order to better care for themselves.

It is not enough anymore to offer advice that isn't concrete and helpful, and telling someone to practice self-care is as vague as telling someone to work in a job they love at 20 years old.

So what is self-care anyway?

In my opinion, *viewer discretion advised* I believe self-care are daily tasks that one does in order to fulfill whatever needs they may have on a regular basis. This can be exercising regularly, developing healthier sleep habits, taking weekly baths, eating your favorite meal, meditating, spending quality time with people you love, or simply taking a deep breath.

I do not believe that self-care is an escape or means of forgetting the world around you in order to survive, but a means to enhance your life in order to make it more enjoyable.

It's important to note that self-care isn't easy when first starting out, especially if you aren't sure what it is you enjoy to do in life.

Because self-care requires you to date yourself

It requires you to take time out of your otherwise hectic day and determine what it is that makes you shine and feel better than you imagined possible. To take yourself out to your favorite dinner without another human to talk to. To try out that Zumba/Yoga class and see if you like it. To go for a run even if you believe it will kill you.

Because learning who you are should be as simple as it sounds, but often times it's not. So show up. Take the risk and take the time to find what it is that sets your soul on fire. Because no one else can ever love or care for you as well as you can, but don't ever let that intimidate you.

Instead, let it be the fuel that propels you forward and motivates you to take the necessary steps in determining what it is you need in this life. Because you are worthy of happiness and time regardless of age, job or stress load. Choose her. Choose the 4-year-old you. Choose the current age you. And continue to choose her well into your 90's. After all, you just might thank yourself later.