Time can change castles into rubble and villains into heroes. Time has changed us from tiny cells into individual human beings. Time will change this world.
In this constant race against time, there is only one thing that never changes – our connection with ourselves. Your actions, thoughts and desires may change as you grow, but deep inside, you will always be who you are. Your identity will always keep you anchored to the world and it will drive the decisions you make. With this being the case, it is important for us, as young people, to remember to keep connected with our identity. So, how exactly do we do this?
Do you remember the first time that you made a friend? You may have shared a conversation with them or given them a compliment. You may have even bonded by helping each other through a difficult situation. Regardless of how you may have met, the only reason that your friendship lasted was because you showed each other care and affection. You may have spent time and energy to maintain your bond. You may have even made sacrifices just to be there for each other when you needed to. Connections break and fade away when you do not care to maintain them. Our connection with ourselves is quite similar. The responsibilities of our daily lives can be demanding. Nevertheless, caring for ourselves must be a vital part of our routines. Self-care can take different forms for different people, but failing to set aside some time for it can cause great harm in the long-run.
Recently, I discovered that even animals take part in activities of self-care! Cats, even wild ones such as leopards, spend hours grooming their fur and sunbathing. Elephants enjoy taking baths in mud to keep their skin protected from insects and the sun. There are also a variety of different animals that are capable of recognising when they are sick and seeking specific types of plants to heal themselves from their illness.
When even animals in the wild seem to prioritise caring for themselves, why should we not do the same? Connecting with yourself and being in touch with your identity starts at a place of care. When you care for someone, you naturally build a relationship with them. We must learn to care for ourselves in a way that helps us connect with who we are.
In a world where every single person seems to be moving in a different direction at their own pace, our minds and our bodies will be the only things that will give us power to seek the path to our goals. When we neglect these parts of ourselves, we will find ourselves stuck in the middle of our journey with no energy or motivation to move forward.
Self-care is as simple as treating yourself like you are a close friend – someone you truly love. After all, how can you enjoy the journey of life when you do not care for the companion you are travelling with?
