The Importance of Being Important

Don’t you love epiphanies? I had one yesterday that brought to light the simple but pertinent existence of my importance. Yesterday was an ordinary morning, which, for me, included the usual litany of household tasks  - all those little chores needed to keep living space in good order. They no longer annoy me. To the contrary, in my sphere of values these chorettes are non-negotiable. But do you know what I (until yesterday) believed was negotiable? Meeting my basic needs.

What do I mean? Well, it was nearly noon as I stood at the sink washing dishes and making the next morning’s coffee. (side note: I’m not a morning person and one of the best new habits ever was to get my coffee ready the day before so when I’m immersed in morning grog, all I have to do is push a button).

As the noon hour approached, my intermittent fasting time was coming to a close. The morning coffee had been consumed hours ago and my stomach was rumbling as I finished washing the remaining dishes. Then my mind jumped ahead to more things I ‘should’ be doing - there’s always a little-but-looming list, isn’t there?

Without warning, and for the first time ever, I chose to ignore the looming list in lieu of doing what my body was asking me to do – eat! Instead of reaching for the spray bottle of Mrs. Meyers to wipe down the counters, I heard myself saying, “No, I’m more important.” A non-earth-shaking decision; but an astonishingly powerful one.

Yes, Virginia, I AM more important. And because the epiphany descended to my core with lightening efficiency, I dropped what I was about to do, fried myself two sunny-side-up eggs with a side of sliced avocado and marveled at what an easy fit the act of kindness was. Naturally, I felt nourished, but more importantly, I felt respected.  How many times in my life have I ignored my body’s messages, essentially telling it to shut the heck up because it’s not time, the Instagram influencer declared I shouldn’t eat after 7 p.m., or I’m in the middle of doing something I ‘should’ be doing.  I’m a little sad to admit, the vast majority of the time, I wasn’t exactly kind to myself in the decisions to ignore or postpone a need.

Indu Arora, an author and teacher of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Meditation, once noted that when we ignore our body’s needs (from hunger to the more extreme alarm that screams it’s time to visit the restroom) the body immediately sends distress signals to various organs, a silent but urgent warning there could be trouble ahead. Why put my body in this undesirable state if I have a choice? Unless you enjoy masochism, the answer is clear. My days of seething at myself to wait another five minutes to use the restroom (just yards away) because X, Y, or Z is more important are over.

It’s just plain unkind. And besides, I’m already settling into a wonderful new mindset that has me all glowy as I begin a new day: I’m more important than X, Y, or Z. And so are you. Here’s to diffusing of our distress signals, kindly and with generosity…because I am more important  - say it with me!

Photos: Joan K. Lentini