The Legacy of Care: Honoring the Women Who Came Before Us

Self-care isn't Selfish

I love my time with the ladies! 

I’ve been lucky to have had incredible female friends since childhood, I went to an all girl high school with inspiring female leadership, and I have tons of female students of all ages these days. And just this past month, I was fortunate enough to be around some of my favorite women of all  when I traveled back to the US and got to hang out with my mom and sisters!

One snowy afternoon at home, I rooted through my childhood bedroom closet and  went through boxes of old family photos. There were plenty of pictures from when my sisters and I  were young. But what I loved even more was discovering my own parents' baby books for the first time.

These books contained detailed accounts of motherhood from both of my grandmothers. They had meticulously noted the tiny details of my parents' first few years, tracking their height and weight, sleep schedules, food preferences, first Christmas gifts, and even emerging personalities.

Reading their beautiful penmanship and staring into the black-and-white photos really made me think about the legacy of the women who came before me. These were women who juggled having a household full of children, resourcefully providing for their families, whether it was through sewing their own clothing, creatively stretching meals, or working in or out of the home. 

It certainly made me pause and think about the modern idea of "self-care."

Is it selfish? Is it indulgent?

When we compare our lives to the women who came before us, it is easy to feel a pang of guilt for taking an hour just for ourselves. Especially for me, as someone with no parental responsibilities, what right do I have to ever complain or think I need more rest or care?

But then I shifted my perspective.

What if, by living well, we are actually honoring the women who came before us?

What if their thoughtful care and hard work were meant to be gifts paving the way for us to thrive?

We can respect and cherish the lives we have been given through the choices we make for our own wellbeing. We can nurture ourselves and in turn, create a legacy of care, support, and wellness in our own families or communities.  

Just as I read in those baby books, women are so often the record keepers of the legacy of care. We are strong and soft. We are brave and bold. We are confident and compassionate.

This is exactly why I love dance so much. The dance floor is a safe space where I can show all of those different sides of myself in just one single hour. I can hit a fierce, strong beat in one song and flow with tender grace in the next.

It is self-care and self-expression all rolled into one. That is a win-win in my book!

In celebration of International Women’s Day this past weekend, I am wishing you and all of the wonderful women in your life a beautiful week. May it be filled with a celebration of all your many sides!

Keep moving!

xx,

Katie