Cheryl Rainfield's Blog, page 49

Listen to your body. Rest when you are tired. Eat when you are hungry.

Listen to your body. Rest when you are tired. Eat when you are hungry.

We live in a society that tells us we have to constantly go, go, go! Work hard, play hard. But we need to take time to rest–to rejuvenate our bodies and our spirits. And constantly working or producing isn’t good for us. Eventually our bodies–and our spirits–will rebel. And often we have set times for meals–instead of eating when we’re actually hungry. Instead of paying attention to our bodies and what they need.

If we take time to rest when we need to, eat when we’re hungry, we’ll be fresher, feel more alive and ready to meet the challenges we need to. Ready to work more and play more.

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #YAlit #iReadYA #YAsaves #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigan #quote #inspiration

Be yourself. You’re just right the way you are.

Be yourself. You’re just right the way you are.

We’re told so often through advertisements, the media, through parents and well-meaning friends, to change this and that, that we’ll be more attractive, or a better person, or somehow a better us. And of course it’s good to grow, to find ways to be kinder, more compassionate. But take a moment to see yourself as you are now. You are JUST RIGHT the way you are. Right this very moment. You are beautiful. Don’t feel you have to change for anyone else. I hope you can love yourself just the way you are. Because I think you’re special. (hugging you)

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #YAlit #iReadYA #YAsaves #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigan #quote #inspiration

Take time to recharge yourself.

Take time to recharge yourself. We need work, but we also need rest and play. It’s lovely to help others, but it’s also important to take care of ourselves. And sometimes we work so hard or are there so often for other people, we forget to take care of ourselves and do what we need to, to recharge.

For me, it’s things like reading a book, playing with my little dog Petal, talking with a friend and getting a hug, watching a show. Taking a moment to read an old reader email or post that made me feel good. Looking at a photo of someone I love. All those things help me recharge my soul, my heart, my energy so that I can keep working hard and keep being there for others.

What are your ways of recharging? I hope whatever you do to help yourself regain some of your energy and good feeling, you do it often.

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #YAlit #iReadYA #YAsaves #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigan #quote #inspiration

Speak to yourself gently and with compassion.

Speak to yourself gently and with compassion.

How we speak to ourselves matters. The way we think about ourselves can influence how we feel about ourselves. If you’ve grown up with abusive or critical parents, you may have absorbed some of their criticalness or harshness and turn it on yourself. If you talk to yourself with a harsh voice, I hope you can let that go, and talk to yourself with the same compassion and understanding you would a friend. You deserve that same support.

Try to catch yourself when you’re being harsh with yourself, and change the tone you use, the words. If you do, you may find that you’re happier.

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #YAlit #iReadYA #YAsaves #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigan #quote #inspiration

Do what is right for you.

Do what is right for you.

Sometimes what you need is different than what others need. It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s good for you–as long as it helps you, doesn’t hurt you (or anyone else). For instance, sometimes I just need to stay home and read a book and cuddle with my dog instead of being out with friends when I’m having a hard time, while others might need to be with friends or go out and do something. Other times, I might find the opposite. It depends on my needs at the time. Or there may be times that I need to say something to feel right about a situation, even if someone else doesn’t agree. I try to go by my heart and my gut.

Trust your heart, what you need at the time, and do what is right for you. You’ll feel better about it.

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #YAlit #iReadYA #YAsaves #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigan #quote #inspiration

Sending you warmth, joy, and good feeling. I wish only good for you.

Sending you warmth, joy, and good feeling. I wish only good for you.

If this is a hard day for you, I hope you’ll take good, gentle care of yourself. Remember that positive distraction–reading a good book, watching a feel-good movie, listening to music that makes you feel good, talking with a friend, drawing or writing or dancing–can help shift your mood or help you get through a hard time. And remember that many people know what you’re going through. You are not alone.

I hope you find some happiness today, joy in little things, have good people or animals around you, reach out to others, have some good food. And remember you matter.

Happy holiday!

Hugs, Cheryl Rainfield (and Petal)

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #YAlit #iReadYA #YAsaves #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigan #quote #inspiration

You have the right to say “No.” Do what’s best for you.

You have the right to say “No.” Do what’s best for you.

I think it’s hard for a lot of women and survivors to say no. We feel guilty, feel like we should always take care of other people, or do what’s best for others and forget about ourselves. But we matter, too, and our own needs are important. If you don’t want to do something or it doesn’t feel right, then it’s important to listen to that. To say “no” when you need to. Say No when you need to, and you’ll often feel relieved.

I hope you keep your own power, and say No when you need to. (And say yes to the things you truly want.)

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #YAlit #iReadYA #YAsaves #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigan #quote #inspiration

Reach out for support when you need it. You may be surprised how many people care.

Reach out for support when you need it. You may be surprised how many people care.

I’ve often found it hard to reach out for support in my life–especially as an abuse survivor who was hurt and betrayed so often. But when I have reached out, I’ve been surprised to find people genuinely care. And how many of them. I think you’ll find the same.

People care, and they want to be there–but you have to let them know what will help, and when you need help. So if you’re having a hard time, remember to reach out.

If you’re in crisis and you’re reaching out often, it can be good to spread out your support network, or phone, text, or email a crisis line as well. You can find a lot of great ones here: www.crisistextline.org/get-help-now/

As always, take gentle care of yourself, and remember that you can get through this.

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #YAlit #iReadYA #YAsaves #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigan #quote #inspiration

Open yourself to the good in your life. It will keep coming in.

Open yourself to the good in your life. It will keep coming in.

Sometimes we have trouble seeing the good that’s already in our life. We focus on the painful things or bad things, instead of the things that bring us moments of joy and happiness. It may be especially hard to see the good if you’ve had a lot of bad or hard things in your life, or if you’re a survivor of abuse or trauma. I struggle with it myself.

But opening up to the good that’s there allows us to see even more good around us. Things that bring us contentment, happiness, moments of joy. They seem to build on each other.

So keep trying to open to the good, to see it around you, and you may find more comes in.

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #YAlit #iReadYA #YAsaves #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigan #quote #inspiration

You can get through this. You are stronger than you know.

You can get through this. You are stronger than you know.

Whatever it is that you’re facing right now, you can survive it. I think we often don’t see our own strength–sometimes not until we go through something rough, or go through something rough and others tell us how well we’re getting through it. Strength isn’t in not feeling afraid, or not falling apart or having a crisis. Strength is in picking ourselves up and keeping on moving forward–after we’ve had time to freak, or sob, or lie there in despair. Strength is in being able to reach out to a friend and let them know how bad things are, or in finding something to cheer ourselves up a little, or something to distract us from our pain or grief or terror for a little while or a long while. Strength is in keeping on even when we thought we couldn’t. And strength is also seeing our strength. (smiling) Even if it’s only after someone told us how strong we are.

You are strong. And you will get through this. And things will be happier again.

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #YAlit #iReadYA #YAsaves #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigan #quote #inspiration