Hi All,<P>It just occured to me when I was writing to Nina that we all need to do something nice for ourselves for at least 30 minutes a day. So within the next 24 hours I would like to suggest we all do something nice for ourselves...take a walk, take a long bath with oils and candles, anything that will make you happy and feel a little more pampered. Then come back on and let everyone know the special thing you did just for you.<P>Goodnight,<BR>ANNA

It is nice when we can treat ourselves for no reason at all, i like to do manythings but being a man taking myself golfing is what I like and fixing up the house, i live in. A bath with oils sounds nice but not alone LOL.<P>

Ok, i took my own advice. I haven't excercised much in two weeks, so I went for a 15 minutes speed walk and am now hoping those endorphins (feel good hormones) were really let loose!<P>My 15 minutes remaining I've decided to do the same thing and take a walk this evening after dinner.<P>I still want to hear what everyone else did. I am going to become a pest.<P>Jabber, HEY YOU! you are so funny! Well working on the house and golfing are great but probably can't be done every day, so I hope if you can't do that then you'll do something else, and hey I hear ya on the not bathing alone, although my stbx could not see why I would take all those relaxing baths, curiousity got to him one day and he took a bath, he came out thoroughly understanding why this was such a treat.<P>ANNA<P>

Darn it!!! I WAS going to take a bath tonight, but I got caught up with a late night for the kids, with D's birthday and all...then I came here to relax a bit and now it's 12.00am!!! <P>RATS!!! I wanted that bath...my mum and dad just renovated the bathroom...they have a spa bath, and I haven't even had one yet. <P>Never mind...I WILL do it tomorrow night! That will give me a chance to buy a bottle of wine to take in there with me, anyway! <P>Anna, ages ago, I started a thread called "What do you do to give yourself a lift?" There were some GREAT ideas there! Look it up with search.<P>Great minds think alike!!!

Nina,<P>I will do just that and look it up. <P>Well when I was writing to you, I wanted to see you do something for yourself, then i started thinking about when I was in Al-anon years ago, we were basically made to do something for ourselves every day and come back and share the things we did! This helped so many of us, sometimes we forgot to take 30 minutes out for ourselves, but we really really need to.<P>BTW, I look forward to you coming back and telling me about that GRAND bath tomorrow.<P>ANNA<BR>

Well, I may not be capable, if i finish that bottle of wine!!!

Nina, LOL LOL <P>I am on a roll! Thinking of actually getting my sunglasses on and going to the park to each lunch today ....I think this thread is helping me more than anyone so far.<P>ANNA<BR><p>[This message has been edited by Anna2000 (edited September 17, 2001).]

It will...mine was in my early days of separation and it really helped. Just getting respondses helps!!!

I just got out of a nice hot shower - baths aren't an option... I don't have a bathtub, just a shower. And, I prepared a really nice breakfast for me and the kids - not a normal thing on Monday morning. crepes with cream cheese and fruit! YUM<P>I'm trying to remember to do something special every day. I think during this time - that's particularly helpful and refreshing.<P>My 30 minutes will be spent later taking a nature hike with my kids. The boys particularly like that. My favorite part is seeing them as they see everything NEW and WONDERFUL. <P>I don't have much 'me' time... But that's okay - I have great company!<P>Jan<P>

Jan,<P>What a nice treat to an extra special breakfast!<P>To everyone else...Ok, hey out there!!! I wonder if anyone took my advice and did anything special for themselves today. You know...there is still time left. Am I gonna have to start knocking on doors. <P>Anna

Well, the bath thing will happen later on tonight, but...<P>I just took my girls for a walk into town. My mum lives in a lovely leafy outer suburb of Melbourne. Lots of gum trees and birds.<P>I can't begin to describe what happened to me out there. I was really enjoying the company of my girls, chattering away, looking at numbers on letter boxes, OD found a bird's nest, which we hid and collected on the way home.<P>They were asking what was this kind of tree, that flower...it was great.<P>We walked a lovely path into town...one side is a bubbling creek, but the other is a railway line. Still lovely. When a train came, they were so excited.<P>They collected dandelion fluffs all along the way and blew the seeds everywhere. We saw a pinl galah just minding his own business, eating some plants along the path, and he didn't fly away, they got a really good look.<P>For me, some of the things I have missed about Australia were once again appreciated. The joy of being able to appreciate a walk in safety, the fact that not EVERY house has a fence, so you can check out their gardens, not a street guard in sight, the smell of the gums, a beautiful, beautiful day here, the call of the birds. It was so peaceful.....

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Goodguy:<BR><B>Thanks Anna and Faithfulwife,<P>I did exactly what you said before you even said. Actually I went back and read your thread about doing something for your self. Well CJ, you may know it I went to the Hot SPrings pool here in Glenwood. It was incredible. The sun just went down. It was a little cool and there were only about a dozen people in the whole pool. I just floated there for about an hour looking up at the sky darkening and the clouds floating by. I just got back and took a really long shower. I feel pretty melow actually. Only one thing. She didn't call. Who knows at this moment though I'm relaxed enough I might just go to bed. Thanks all for the hugs. They are really needed and appreciated more than you will ever know. I really didn't think I was going to make it through last night but you guys got me through. Thank you. One day I will return the favor. <P>Goodnight.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Goodguy,<BR>WOW!!! I wondered yesterday if my post helped anyone. I have to smile this morning knowing that I contributed in a small way to you doing something special for yourself. BTW, I hope you got some sleep last night. I am going to become a pest now and make sure you keep this up.<P>Jabber,<BR>I hope you did one of those special things you enjoy yesterday.<P>Nina,<BR>Save some of that wine for me...I think I may need it with my bath tonight. What a cool story on the nature walk.<P>Jan,<BR>How was your nature hike with the kids? Post and let us know.<P>As for me I went again this morning on my walk and I am going to relax in a hot bath tonight. Tomorrow I am thinking of lap swimming, something I haven't done lately.<P>Same assignment today...Do something special for at least 30 minutes and my goal is to get at least 3 more people posting with what they did special today.<P>Your friend,<BR>ANNA<P>

Well I never had the bath...could not get on to site until now and it really pi***** me off, cos I had some thoughts for someone. Two whole hours without free access to you guys!!! Urghhjh!