Fueled by Care
Because loving others starts with yourself
The past two weeks have been particularly heavy emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Between holding space for families at work and managing my own family’s challenges, I found myself drained in ways that my regular self-care routine just couldn’t quite replenish.
It’s true that my daily walks, prayer time, and check-ins with friends were lifelines and helped to take the edge off. But when you’re constantly being pulled on emotionally, the fuel tank empties faster than it can be filled.
So when a long-awaited day trip with friends finally made it out of the group chat, it turned out to be right on time. In preparation, I treated myself to a mani-pedi earlier in the week and scheduled my monthly massage for the day before we left. That intentional winding down set the tone. Even the drive itself was therapeutic. I disconnected, let the music carry me, and allowed myself to simply be. With my friends, I laughed, listened, caught up on our favorite shows, and reflected on our recent wins.
When we arrived at the spa, it felt as if we had stepped into another dimension. We left the weight of the world at the door and gave ourselves permission to fully immerse ourselves in the experience. After letting the husbands know that we had arrived safely, we spent the next nine hours soaking in all the restoration we could handle. Hydrotherapy pools, saunas, hot tubs, immersion rooms, infrared therapy, and spa services. Somewhere in between, we ate, basked in the sunshine, and even snuck in a few power naps.
Time slipped away, and before we knew it, the day had passed. We ended with a quiet dinner by the water, our hearts light and our bodies refreshed. That night, we all slept deeply. The next morning, we woke renewed, determined to guard the peace and the fuel we had received the day before for as long as possible.
The weekend was more than a trip; it was a self-care intensive. It reminded me that we are all fueled by care. When we give ourselves permission to pause, rest, and be restored, we return to our families and communities better able to love, support, and pour into them.
As Scripture reminds us:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
—Matthew 22:39b CSB
Self-care is not just necessary; it’s biblical. When we care for ourselves well, we are better able to love those around us well. This weekend gave me the fuel to love a little harder, support a little longer, and show up with more grace.
