A Realization at 35,000 Feet

“If the cabin loses pressure, an oxygen mask will fall from the panel above you.  Be sure to secure your oxygen mask before assisting others”

The words hit me hard.

I had heard them before, but never really paid attention to the deeper meaning they implied.

I guarantee that you’ve listened with annoyed persistence yourself.

Trying to get comfortable in the way too small, far too ‘upright’ airplane seat.

Hoping to fall asleep before the dreaded ‘take off’.

Attempting to just relax when you know your destination is more than four uncomfortable hours away.

And then, just as your eyes close and you begin to doze off, the loud speaker booms on and the voice of the flight attendant echoes throughout the vibrating cylinder you’re sitting in…

… And she recites the standard safety messages that are legally part of every flight you’ve ever taken.

But the ‘Oxygen Mask’ portion of my flight to Chicago two months ago struck me in a way it hadn’t before.

Mom’s live in servitude.

We are conditioned to believe that everyone and everything will come before our own needs.

We are shackled to the bonds of ‘must do’, ‘need to’ and ‘have to’.

We are the givers of life, the teachers of polite and the nurturers of tears.

And yet, we are martyrs who don’t pursue for ourselves.

But the Oxygen Mask teaches us otherwise.

We are no good to anyone else, if we do not first help ourselves.

Without air flowing cleaning through our lungs, we can’t possibly provide shelter for those who can’t breathe.

We must release the notion that ‘selfish’ has negative connotations and somehow implies a self-importance that will cause pain to others.

I am at my best FOR my kids when I do for myself.

I am at the best WITH Brian when I take care of me.

I am a Mom, so by definition, experienced guilt over the prospects of taking care of myself as much as I did everyone else in my life.

But I learned an incredibly valuable lesson that changed my mind…..

I teach my kids to succeed.

I encourage them to be ambitious.

I show them how to dream and achieve.

I tell them that anything in life is possible if they choose to pursue it.

But my words (and yours) are shallow and soulless if they aren’t backed up by action.

I take care of me and follow my dreams with reckless passion…..

…. If I don’t, how can I possibly expect my kids to?

Stay Sexy,

C2