Happy Monday Reader!

Ever have those days that manage to be the worst day of your month yet also amazing at the same time?

Honestly, I'm not sure I've ever experienced emotional whiplash as much as I did last week on Thursday, when I attended the Mid-Continent Public Library's Self-Care Summit.

The first emotional extreme came as I was leaving my neighborhood & I sideswiped a neighbor's parked car. Being the cause of an easily preventable accident is not a positive way to start a day!

It would have been so easy to avoid. The wreck was entirely unnecessary. It was due to feeling like I was running behind & thus trying to multitask while driving, instead of paying any attention to the road.

It was also terrifying. That crunching, ragged scratching sound as metal scrapes against metal...even now my stomach does flip-flops as I remember it.

"I am worthy of forgiveness, just as I would forgive others."

The drive to the library after that was a bit of a blur. I kept berating myself for my stupidity. Agonizing over the cost to repair the damage, which we can't really afford right now...but not making it right isn't on the table.

Then I got to the event and everyone asked how I was. I was honest and admitted my accident! Everyone was very kind and understanding. They all recognized I didn't do it on purpose. That accidents happen. My friends took care of me with kind words, water & napkins when I unexpectedly burst into tears at a second retelling.

But it's much harder for me to forgive myself. My most common negative thought is "I should have known better," after all. And this was definitely something I should have know better than to do.

I was scheduled to be a panelist at the event, and the organizer even gave me the option to skip my obligations and deal with the crisis instead. But how perfect was the timing of a whole day event focused on self-care after I made a giant, expensive mistake? (Special shout out to C.L. Fails' workshop on Decoding Joy & holding two conflicting truths/emotions at the same time. That lesson definitely felt like divine timing!)

Past me wouldn't have let myself enjoy the event. I would have held on to guilt & self-recrimination. My knee jerk reaction would be to punish myself.

I am always harder on myself than I would be on others. None of the people at the event thought I was a terrible person for my morning mistake. I wouldn't think that of anyone who told me that same story, either.

So this week I am working on dismantling my double standard by repeating 21x/day this week:

"I am worthy of forgiveness, just as I would forgive others."

P.S. Only vehicles were damaged in the accident. And my neighbors were so chill & nice about the situation when I met with them later that evening! It's such an inconvenience to be in an accident, even if it's not your fault at all.

Upcoming Virtual Workshop - 60 Second Self-Care at Work

Join me and NonProfit Connect for a personal & professional development webinar!

The holiday season is a time for joy, connection, and celebration – but it can also be incredibly stressful. Self-care often takes a backseat during this busy time, but it’s more important than ever to prioritize your well-being. Self-care often gets a bad rap for being expensive or time-consuming. But what if we told you it doesn't have to be?

Join us for a session packed with practical tips and easy-to-implement strategies for incorporating self-care into your busy life without breaking the bank.

• When: Oct. 16, 2024 • 9:30-10:30am
• Cost: $25 - Members / $45 - Nonmembers
• Where: Your desk! Webinar access instructions provided after registration.
• How: Register via NonProfit Connect​

As always, affirmations work best when you truly believe them. They need to resonate with you and feel achievable. So feel free to modify any I suggest, or develop entirely new ones!

Say them as long as you want. I'm sharing a new affirmation each week, but that doesn't mean you have to switch it up each week unless it feels right. You can add new ones as often as you want and have as many as you want. You can say a different affirmation every day, or at different times of the day. You choose!

I'd love to hear the impact it has! (But if you decide affirmations are not for you, click here to be removed from this weekly email.)

I hope this affirmation sets you up for a kick ass week and I'll see you next Monday for a new one to try!

I always have time for you. ❤️

-- Jen