For years I didn't realize that I should slow down during winter. I pushed myself just as hard as every other part of the month. It's only been in the last 5 years or so that I've even allowed the words "it's ok to slow down today" to creep into my head when it comes to my cycle. I was under the impression that slowing down equated with a type of weakness unique to women - that I was contributing to the idea that women are overly emotional and incapable - especially during their cycles. I couldn't let anyone witness that I was deficient in some way! So I did the opposite, I pushed harder. How wrong I was I to approach my cycles in this way. It only added to further feelings of being run down and inadequate. Reading your words today is like a balm - reinforcing the idea that it's ok to slow down and honor our internal rhythms. Thank you. 🩷
Yes, friend. I was running myself that way too. Since tracking and cycle awareness is not incorporated onto my life, I require less caffeine, less sugar, less alcohol and less ibuprofen and actually, less antibiotics too.
Anything that talks about squirrels is all right in my book! I loved your comment about making phone calls because sometimes making a phone call for an appointment or to schedule something feels so monumental and heavy. It's "just" a phone call but my cycle days and the thoughts I have about my hearing loss make it too sensitive to even think about so I postpone it for another time. I winterized today (a week late) but I think I needed to catch up so I could move into inner spring. It seemed stalled.
For years I didn't realize that I should slow down during winter. I pushed myself just as hard as every other part of the month. It's only been in the last 5 years or so that I've even allowed the words "it's ok to slow down today" to creep into my head when it comes to my cycle. I was under the impression that slowing down equated with a type of weakness unique to women - that I was contributing to the idea that women are overly emotional and incapable - especially during their cycles. I couldn't let anyone witness that I was deficient in some way! So I did the opposite, I pushed harder. How wrong I was I to approach my cycles in this way. It only added to further feelings of being run down and inadequate. Reading your words today is like a balm - reinforcing the idea that it's ok to slow down and honor our internal rhythms. Thank you. 🩷
Yes, friend. I was running myself that way too. Since tracking and cycle awareness is not incorporated onto my life, I require less caffeine, less sugar, less alcohol and less ibuprofen and actually, less antibiotics too.
Oof, the typos. Meant to write- "since tracking and cycle awareness is NOW incorporated INTO my life..."
Anything that talks about squirrels is all right in my book! I loved your comment about making phone calls because sometimes making a phone call for an appointment or to schedule something feels so monumental and heavy. It's "just" a phone call but my cycle days and the thoughts I have about my hearing loss make it too sensitive to even think about so I postpone it for another time. I winterized today (a week late) but I think I needed to catch up so I could move into inner spring. It seemed stalled.