Soul Treats: Are you giving yourself enough?

snoedel.moorelife.nl | July 13, 2010 | 2:41 PM

Monday, 28 June, 2010 (posted 12 July, 2010)

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Today has been a much-needed lazy day. My calendar was clear. I was commitment-free. And I decided to simply be spontaneous – only do what I felt like doing in the moment.

After making breakfast, posting on Facebook, catching up on the latest news, and playing with my cat, I went out to lie on my deck to look up at the clouds. As I watched them slowly meander across the sky, my mind drifted off and soon I felt present and connected to my body. I love that feeling – the spacious, free feeling I felt as a little girl sitting in my backyard playing in the dirt for hours. Not a care in the world. No place to be. Nothing to worry about. Just hands in dirt. Ahhhh, the good old days.

After hanging out on the deck for a while, I came inside to sit with Poupon. As I stroked his fur, I thought about the things I often fantasize about doing when I’m too busy to do them. You know, the little things we all wish we could do to feel more alive or connected to ourselves. So, I decided to make a list that included things like:

* Wake up early and drive to the beach to watch the sunrise.

* Finish the novels that are sitting next to my bed.

* Watch documentaries (a favorite pastime).

* Start riding my bike again – don’t know why I ever stopped.

* Take a flower-arranging class (in my next life I’ve decided I’m going to own a flower shop).

* Create a journal using colored markers and paints, and tape favorite quotes, affirmations, and photos inside for fun.

* Finish a fashion board I started a year ago filled with pictures of great clothing, shoes, and jewelry designs.

* Plant the second phase of my deck garden and start a new flower garden.

* Take late afternoon walks with Michael around our neighborhood.

I think of these types of activities as little “soul treats” – the things we do that add depth, richness, fun, and meaning to our lives. Too often they get relegated to the back burner because emails, phone calls, endless commitments, and grown-up responsibilities always seem far more important. Yes, I know we all have things we must do, but what if we were to make these significant, too?

Ok, how about you? Any ideas? I’d love to hear about them (so I can add to my list, too!). Feel free to share them on my Facebook page here.

Take Action Challenge

Make your own list of little soul treats – the things you’ve been thinking about doing but not giving enough time, energy and attention to. Keep it nearby so you remember to make them a priority, too!

This week’s video was sent to me by none other than Louise Hay! It will make you smile and leave you feeling so loved! You can find it here. Thanks, Louise!

Life Makeover for the Year 2009(sm) is written and produced by Cheryl Richardson.© Copyright 1999-2009 Cheryl Richardson, P.O. Box 13, Newburyport, MA 01950, www.cherylrichardson.com. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Have a question for Cheryl? Call in during her live Internet radio show -- Coach on Call -- on the Internet at www.hayhouseradio.com. The show airs live on Mondays at 5pm ET (2pm PT) and is replayed throughout the week.