DNA Vida Libre

I lacked sleep today. I should know better.  I went to a highly intense job with little sleep and no partner in crime to use as a soundboard. When this happens--I cry. For no particular reason, I break down like when a toddler is tired but they cannot or will not go to sleep. I felt like giving up.  Self-Care Practices of the day:      1. I took deep breaths; 5 of them, while counting to 5 before                 exhaling. That got me to a relaxed state--more like light                   headed but it made the next step easier.      2. I closed my eyes and I repeated to myself (like a mantra): "just do what you can--you are enough" "Fuck the assholes. Fuck the assholes. Fuck the assholes." "I can do what I can and that is enough."       3. I re-read my to-do-list; picked one item to tackle. That was        ...

Yesterday, May 10th was Mother's Day for many Latinos. I get to celebrate this day twice for my sisters, mom, cousins etc. That's one of the many benefits to being bicultural--you get to celebrate multiple holidays. It was a special Self-Care Day.  Self Care Practices: Graceful--apologize and accept apologies Breathe Back/neck alignment and massage Drums Dancing So May 10th--pretty awesome and easy day. After kicking ass at work for four hours; I left early for a chiropractor appointment followed by deep tissue massage.  I was home by 2:30pm with no Chucho, child nor big child in the house. Just a kitty that leaves me alone unless its dinner time.  I rested. Took my CBD oil and the relaxation continued. Eventually the boys came home, we got ready for dinner and I was taken out on a sushi date with my favorite human beings.  The surprise--Mother's Day Powow!  My little one wanted to dance but backed out because he had no "dress" so I told him I ...

First Friday of the month at a local government agency can be challenging. Especially when the team is covering for a co-worker that will be out for the next 3 months due to mental health issues. She did not practice self-care. She normally carries a "specialized" case load that involves women and men currently residing in an alcohol and drug facility with at least one child. For many years she was the only worker who worked with this "specialized caseload". I knew she was struggling. It was common knowledge in the office; however sometimes the social service field can jade and numb many of the workers' ability to acknowledge each others struggles. Perhaps because they are dealing with every one's trauma while dealing with their own secondary trauma if not their own trauma. So instead of healthy self-care techniques; she picked up smoking. Fell behind on cases, paperwork was not tracked correctly and families went without the support they should have receiv...