We women are givers, aren’t we?

We’re always so happy to help out our families, our friends, our co-workers, our PTAs, our churches, our you-name-its.

But I’ll bet at some point that you gave until it hurt. Until you were so exhausted that you couldn’t give to one more person. Or until you felt burnt out. Or fed up.

Because a lot of us women are also particularly good at forgetting how to give to the most important person of all: OURSELVES.

So let me ask you this: When was the last time you gave to YOU?

Are you giving as much priority to yourself and your own needs as you give to all the other people in your life?

Because if you’re not refilling your own energy tank with love and affection and care for your body and mind and soul, you’ll eventually reach a point where you have nothing left to give.

My personal coach recently gave me the mantra: More Mary, More Mary, More Mary.

And I sticky-noted this little ditty to my computer so it would always be on my radar.

Because it’s true the world could use More Mary as well as More Jane and More Ashley and More Linda and More Kathy and More Eleanor and more Sandra and More YOU!

But don’t ever forget that you’ll only have more to give to the world if you are allowing yourself to RECEIVE as well.

So accept help when it’s offered. And if it isn’t offered, don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.

Claim the gift of an uninterrupted 10-15 minutes a day that’s just for you.

Nourish your mind with enriching and uplifting sounds and images.

Take a break from depressing news reports then close the books and turn off the TV shows that are filled with violent, frightening or horrifying storylines.

By the way, have you noticed that giving always feels best when you expect NOTHING in return?

Wanna know why?

Because if you expect something in return, it’s really not giving at all. It’s TRADING.

Now I promise that I’ll be sharing More Mary with you this year as I have some exciting things planned in the months ahead. But if you need a little more Mary in your life right now, check out today’s VPOD.

Mary McFadden may have designed this lovely quilted jacket in the 1980s but it’s still quite a pretty find to wear on the Spring days that are right around the corner.

And it’s a lovely treat for a giving Vintage Crusader!

Available at Monday’s Child.

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