Okay, I absolutely love that I’m writing this post while soaking in a bath, and I need to make this a part of my Self Care Sunday ritual. If you’re a mobile blogger, try it. It’s great.

I’m currently wallowing in a warm bath that smells of rosemary, patchouli and frankincense essential oils, with a natural sandalwood bar soap sitting beside me. A white candle is burning in the corner, the light of the flame reflected on the water.

I live for a good soak.

Know what else I live for? A good self reflection session. Similar to the candlelight dancing across the surface of my rippling bath water, but a little less pleasing to the eye. It’s sometimes disastrous, actually.

But not today. Today it’s a magical self care practice.

I am loving every second of this.

I think it’s super important to create moments like this often in our lives- creating a safe, relaxing environment without distractions, where we can sit, breathe, and just be. Where we can take the time to meditate, reflect on our blessings, forgive ourselves for our mistakes, and evaluate where we are on our journeys to become our best selves.

That’s why I like to do this Self Care Sunday thing every week. The practice has helped me so much on my journey to heal from trauma and learn to live -and thrive- with mental illness(es). I’m nowhere near my final evolution of self, and I’m not exactly sure what’s coming next (this wasn’t in the Pokémon handbook), but lately I’ve been surprising myself with all these milestones I’ve been hitting.

Growth, woo! I don’t have to stay stuck forever! This realization completely shifted my perspective to something more expansive.

Now I’ve become something of a personal growth junkie.

But that’s enough rambling for now. Here’s this week’s gratitude list:

realizing that a blog is the necessary next step in my internet career • having found the inspiration to write long form content • the ability to dream up bigger, crazier things to try in life • a renewed lust for adventure • finding great ideas in unlikely places • kitty cuddles • bike rides along the coastline • visiting Buddhist temples • friendships • making good memories • realizing I am not what has happened to me, but I could be what I do next • the awesome new opportunities this new blog is opening me up for • the joy that comes with inspiring others to live their best lives • feeling “the feels” fully, in all their glory • spending more time “in the moment” • hiking until your legs feel like they’re going to fall off • the laugh that came with realizing this list was definitely written by a Sagittarius

What are you grateful for?