Up up and away

There is s perverseness in people that makes them push through and do things whether they want to or not. The idea that we should take care of everyone else before ourselves is built on hubris and it is water soluble. Eventually tears will fall and the whole thing will melt away in one untidy mess.

Kindness is not just an act. It is a foundation that must be built on reality. The kindest people I know are kind to themselves too. They take care of themselves. Nurturing themselves makes them strong enough to persevere when times are tough without falling apart.

Living is not a linear thing. It is a sphere, a wholeness that requires things to connect in real ways. Imagine a balloon filled with molecules of air. Each molecule is a different aspect of your life. Eating the right foods, getting enough sleep, keeping up on the news, sharing things with friends, doing good deeds, exercising, being creative, being clean, indulging in those things that are special to just you, and so forth.

Remove any one of them and the balloon is not as full as it once was.

Keeping that balloon big and bright and translucent requires constant attention to all your needs. It makes you stronger and more capable of being better at everything -- including being kind and taking care of other people in the best way possible.