Reclaiming My Joy

This morning I woke with a renewed sense of caring for myself. After a weekend of holiday celebrations, I realized I’d had more to drink than I’m used to and slept poorly because of it. And in that foggy, restless waking, something became clear: I can enjoy myself without alcohol, and sleep is a necessary, non-negotiable part of my health journey.

Today, I’m rededicating myself to my physical and emotional well-being. Work has been more demanding than usual, and I’ve been letting it swallow my energy and overshadow the joy of the season. That stops today. I’m taking my joy back, and work will have to take its proper place in the background for a bit.

I’ve also noticed how much I bend myself toward meeting the expectations others set — often in hopes of gaining approval that never truly comes. And not because people are withholding, but because the approval I’m chasing isn’t theirs to give. It comes from a lifetime of old wounds that still ask to be soothed, understood, and healed.

I know my worth. I know I am capable. And I know that caring for myself — body, mind, and heart — is the only way forward. Today is a fresh start, and I’m choosing myself.