How to reframe self care so you experience the magical life you want (even if the world is going to hell)

Just a heads up, this blog more conversational than usual, and it’s quite frank. I recommend reading it when you’re ready for a metaphorical slap in the face, and then get yourself a cup of tea and slice of cake as compensation.

My grandma use to say “the world is going to pot.” That was 30 years ago.

Every generation has seen the world change and has commented on how young people are ruining everything. They were doing it in the 1st century BC and they’ll be doing it 100 years from now.

In the meantime, we get one life. I doubt we’ll have solved world hunger or saved the planet by the end of it. The problems we have now will probably be the problems we have when we’re 60. I hate that. And, the only way to actually make change is to accept reality.

The reality is, life will continue to be hard.

The reality is, we have a finite number of years to enjoy it however we can. We’re not even guaranteed how many years we have left…it could be less than five!

The reality is, there are many barriers to joy, both systemic and coincidental.

The reality is, we get to decide how to play the hand we’re dealt.

I don’t know about you, but I have a vested interest in not giving up. I want to create as many joyous memories as I can. I want to be good to the people around me, and to myself. I want to eat all the cinnamon rolls, see all the waterfalls, read all the books, listen to all the music, breathe all the fresh air, take all the baths, do all the puzzles, visit all the coffee shops, burn all the candles, create all the art I can in the time I have.

That’s why I make really good coffee at home and bake cakes for my friends' birthdays. It’s why I travel as often as I can. It’s why I decorate my house how I want to instead of doing what’s popular. It’s why I do community theater, and it’s why I decided to turn even my most boring, average tasks into a Quest for self care.

In my work as a clinical nutritionist and personal trainer, I’ve had the privilege to see into the everyday life of so many people. Over and over again, I’ve seen the desire to care for their bodies hampered by the very real experience of not having enough stamina, time, or mental energy to do the things they know will help them feel better.

I’ve also seen how play completely changes the outlook. Turn anything into a game, and people want to participate. Add a bit of whimsy, and suddenly it’s exciting again. And I know that for some people, that’s exactly what’s missing when it comes to self care.

That’s why I created the Self Care Quest last summer. It was ten themed weeks of “choose your own adventure” self care tasks that got people out of their comfort zone and into the trenches doing the hard work of showing up for themselves…only it felt fun because of how we dressed it up! It was very popular and several people in the group asked if we could do it all the time. I wasn’t able to commit to it then, but I am now.

Get ready for another summer (and fall, winter, spring) of Self Care Quest. This time, we’re making it even more immersive, with maps and playlists and levels and badges. I can’t wait to share it with you!