Thursday, June 12
Even without children, the nurturing part of you still exists. The love you want to give is still within you - and there are still meaningful ways to express it. For many of us, gardening and being in nature has helped. Watching things grow reminds us that change is possible, and that we can nurture life - including our own - in new ways.
Let’s unpack this:
I've come to realize that nurturing manifests in many forms, often extending beyond the traditional sense. In college, I searched for a mentor, someone who'd see qualities in me I overlooked. That "perfect" mentor never materialized, precisely because perfection doesn't exist. Yet, I found myself in countless instances where employees, interns, students, and colleagues approached me with their struggles. I'd activate my empathy, listening intently. Before responding, I'd ask myself: "What would the mentor I'd sought all those years say?" Looking back, this was my attempt to not only nurture them but also to fulfill my own need to be mentored. I realized I was the mentor I needed because no one has ever walked in my shoes; this meant that over time, I learned to trust my inner wisdom. This realization profoundly shaped my understanding of self-nurturing. Our words matter; our bodies can't differentiate between truth or lie, positive thought or negative self-talk. It means that whether we have children or not, the opportunity to cultivate kindness and understanding towards ourselves, and to guide our own growth, remains. We nurture every day. Do you give yourself credit for those moments? When you feed your pet, tend your garden, care for a neighbor's child, or guide a sibling? Do you mentor colleagues, care for aging parents, or work in healthcare? If any of these resonate, you are indeed a nurturer. The answers you seek are truly within you - Adriana Rodriguez-Baptiste
Subscriber Spotlight: This week’s resource:
unRipe - a podcast that specifically speaks to women who don’t have kids, with humor and heart. It explores how to live a full life and channel nurturing energy in unexpected, beautiful ways.
