If you’re feeling happy, well and balanced nothing can easily faze you. If you’re feeling off, overwhelmed or stressed being asked to do that one little thing extra at work could throw you over the edge. Having a car cut you up can make you see red and road rage embroils. Even being caught walking behind someone slower on the pavement can send you screaming into the road just to overtake them. When I was having a particularly bad time a couple of years ago I reversed onto my drive scratching the whole side of my car along the gatepost. (Thank you Scuff Busters, you did an excellent job!) I wasn’t feeling me. I wasn’t able to think straight and I found even the simplest task (like reversing somewhere I’d driven 100s of times) ridiculously difficult. I know that when I’m stressed I forget the pin numbers for my bankcards. When I’m tired I fill up my car with petrol rather than diesel. When I’m time-pressured I find it hard to sit patiently waiting for my five year old to not get dressed for school.
With my 5 year old, I’ve realised I need to be armed with all kinds of weapons to win the daily battles of getting dressed, eating and the general ‘getting through the day’ stuff. I’ve recently been reading about peaceful and positive parenting. Having read lots of different theories and listened to some really interesting talks I’ve realised, above all, that if I’m in the right frame of mind, I’m more equipped to negotiate each battle in a straightforward way. If I’ve had a bad day or just feeling out of kilter; it’s probably me that escalates each battle into a full-blown war.
When I’m feeling good. Life is good. Life is easier.
I remember when I had the most amazing reflexology session with Katie Knight who I used to swap reflexology treatments with every 1-2 months. We’d been swapping treatments for about 4 years and although I’ve always loved her reflexology, on this particular day, I remember feeling as though it was powering through my body like never before. I had felt out of sorts that week and I was very aware I had to run from Katie’s clinic to treat a new client. I was going to cancel my much needed self-care time as I was worried I would be late for my client and not feel in the right frame of mind for them to get the best from me. However, I’m so glad I went. Katie told me at the end of our session my feet were showing her just how stressed I was and she really concentrated on balancing these areas. At the end I felt so calm. I felt as though I could take on the world and I floated up to my client feeling incredibly energised and uplifted. The new client loved the reflexology and signed up for 6 sessions on the spot. They instantly felt the benefits both physically and emotionally and understood regular treatments would keep them topped up. Reflexology really is powerful stuff.
If we take time to look after ourselves, better things happen. Obviously reflexology is a great way to take time out, relax and rest. It helps enable your body to naturally restore and reset and you’ll leave like your walking on air. You should also feel balanced and in kilter. Just doing something you love for yourself can help you. Give yourself time. Even if that time is hard to come by and tricky to organise, it will be more than worth it. You’ll come out of it feeling you again and ready to take on the world. You won’t mind being asked to do something extra (quite so much) at work and you’ll happily follow behind the slower pedestrian. You’ll still get frustrated by being cut up in the car but you won’t feel the need to jump out of your car and lynch them!
Michelle Obama said, “When I get up and workout, I’m working out just as much for my girls as I am for me, because I want them to see a mother who loves them dearly, who invests in them, but who also invests in herself. It’s just as much about letting them know as young women that it is OK to put yourself a little higher on your priority list.”
Being your own priority is incredibly important for physical and emotional wellbeing. Self-care can no longer be seen as just an option. It must become a priority. As much as our bodies are incredible they are continually battling to maintain optimum health physically and emotionally. If we ignore niggling colds, aches and pains and don’t give ourselves time to heal, they can easily become bigger, more substantial illnesses that derail us for a lot longer. Deepak Chopra said, “If you don’t take care of your health today, you will be forced to take care of your illness tomorrow.”
You are important. Allow yourself a break. Rest and reset. Looking after your own emotional and physical wellbeing for small amounts of time each day will make you a better person for yourself and others in the long run. Life will be easier. Do more of the things YOU love. Although if anyone has the magic formula for only having to ask a 5 year old once to get dressed – I’ll give you free reflexology sessions for life!
I’ll hopefully be able to work again from April 12th 2021 – fingers and toes crossed!
Kathryn Allen, Reflexologist
07867535674
the BiG TOE 
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