If you follow me on Instagram, you know that my dog Harper and I returned to California from living on the island of Kauai last month because she needed knee surgery (and there are zero vet surgeons on the island or close by).
Harper is the cutest, sweetest, silliest pup on the planet and was absolutely adored by our whole flight crew and fellow passengers from boarding to arrival! See pics of our journey here.
Life can change suddenly, and in January, after seeing two island vets and having a virtual consultation with the top vet surgeon for canine knee surgery in California, it was clear that we would need to leave our island home so Harper could get the care she needed.
When your pet or loved one is hurting it’s heartbreaking.
When you have to move suddenly, whether for the short or long-term, it’s overwhelming.
Caregiving post-surgery is always challenging.
From scheduling vet appointments, to flights and travel, to moving out of one home and into another. From shipping my car across the ocean, to buying bubble wrap and shipping boxes full of house stuff, work, and Harper’s necessities. From transferring accounts, downsizing, organizing, packing, and unpacking… the start of 2023 was not easy.
It was full of physical and mental challenges, and thankfully, too, an abundance of blessings and angels. I don’t know how I would have made it through without so much kindness from family, friends, neighbors and even strangers who helped me.
The morning after deciding to go to California for Harper’s surgery, I sat on my lanai watching the sunrise with a cup of coffee and my journal, knowing the next few months would be a lot. I also knew that I was going to have to be extremely good to myself, so I could take extremely good care of Harper before and after her surgery.
I was going to have to practice serious love for myself – physically, mentally, and spiritually in order to make it through this unexpected time.
Loving ourselves is always important, but it’s imperative when facing difficult or uncertain times.
Self-love involves taking care of our bodies, getting good rest, hydration, and nutrition, and knowing and respecting our boundaries.
It involves mentally being patient, kind, and gentle with ourselves. And using our inner voice to build us up, not break us down.
Self-love involves nurturing our spirit and being positive, hopeful, and looking on the bright side, especially when life feels scary.
Loving ourselves means believing in who we are and having faith in life, even when we have no idea how we’re going to get from where we are to where we want to be.
One thing I love so much about the work I get to do is when I get to share with you something I know can truly help you. Because it’s helped me, too.
If you feel like you could use more self-love tools or gentle reminders to treat yourself kinder, I hope you’ll join me for my new Love Yourself More workshop. It’s 100% online, so you can dive in right away, or enjoy it when it’s a good time for you.
Learn more and sign up here.
Have a wonderful weekend and be good to yourself!
Emily and Team EveryDay Happy
Quote for your day
“Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.” — Roger Miller
Read More Like This
