Inspiration
Self-care Express: What Are We Here for Again?
Today, a brief reminder. What are we here for? Why are we doing this? How is it that there’s always something more to say about the care of the self?
Let’s recap
We’re here because we’re creatures of rare beauty and wonder. Precious, unique children of God/the Universe. As Tara Schuster, author of the recently published Glow in the F*ing Dark: Simple Practices to Heal Your Soul, from Someone Who Learned the Hard Way reminds us, the minerals making up our bodies come from STARS. Stars and suns that were formed billions of years ago.
And if that doesn’t give you a full-body blushing-heart-emoji feeling, read it again. This is an astronomy-portion of good fortune and wonder!
We have come so far. Light years! Why would we come all this way to neglect ourselves? It doesn’t hold water. And it’s certainly not what we want for our children. Who also come from stars.
But the grind has a way of grinding down the awareness that you are worthy and lovable and cherishable and there will never be another like you. We do need frequent reminders to cut through the veil of ho-hum, my little life is dull and ordinary.
Reminders like rainbows and Mariah Carey songs! Reminders like diamonds and Mary Oliver, who is still telling us, even from her perch in the next life, that we have ONE precious life, and that it’s supposed to be WILD.
And reminders—wow, look at me putting myself in the company of Mary and Mariah, but that’s what I’m saying about our Self-care community here! We are rare creatures!—like this monthly self-care egging on.
As the kids say, I don’t know who needs to hear this today. Probably not just us, though. Let’s be kind to ourselves and if we still have time, go forth and be excellent to our fellow rare creatures and remind them with our kindness that we all come from stars.
If you use Amazon, thanks for your purchase from the link in this article.
Image: Ushibori, Kawase Hasui, 1930, Rijksmuseum. Used with permission.
Oh Max, thank you for this reminder. I’m saving this post to remind myself to think of my children and grandchildren
Yes!
What an awesome bit of philosophy! Thank you.
Go forth and polish your shine.
Thanks for this, Max! I never think I need reminding until someone or something reminds me, and then wow do I realize how the grind has worn me down. I love your posts!
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting;
The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting
And cometh from afar;
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home
— William Wordsworth
You had me at Mary Oliver.
Wow!!! What a perfect way to start this perfect day!!!
in the words of CSNY-in the song Woodstock-We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion-year-old carbon, and we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.
Thanks Max, another meaningful enlightened letter. I’ve always meant to tell you how much I love the art work you choose!
Thank you! I have SO MUCH FUN choosing the art 🙂
Also appreciated the artwork illustrating this post
Ah, thank you Marty!
Love your post! I agree with everything except Mariah Carey.
Haha okay! Who’s your Mariah, then?
Thank you- I kid you not yesterday morning I was listening to Joni and thinking damn right I AM stardust and I AM golden…..❤️
Embrace the day everyone!
Reading Louise Penny’s story, the children of Canada drew rainbows of hope during the pandemic and taped them to their windows as a message to each other that there are brighter days coming. Those are now. Peace to all.
Thank you for the reminder – also the art in your posts is always a perfect reminder of art=life!
Thanks for the reminder!
We are stars! I am a star! Thank you. I needed this.