The other night I dreamt of shopping in a chocolate shop, looking at boxes of colorful candy. I bought three boxes of candy, each with a different variety of flavors. All three of these were to be gifted to different people in my life. The thought occurred to me as I was prepared to leave the shop that I did not purchase anything for myself. This is the thought that I woke up with as the morning called me to start my day.
The thought lingered as I went on about my daily tasks: my work as a professor, in keeping my household running, in shopping, cooking and the endless cleaning that plagues every woman. If I was to take any message from the dream, it was to take time for myself. We typically have very busy schedules, care for the needs of others, run our homes, work outside the home, and do not have enough hours in the day for ourselves.
As I went about my day, the thought of the dream kept popping up. I reminded myself to take some time for my own needs. However, the day moved quickly by, and before I knew it night had fallen. I remembered that my own subconscious mind had been telling me to rest, think of my own needs, and have some chocolate. So that is what I did. Sitting in the silence of the late evening, I lit some candles, turned on some music, and let myself have a little bit of rest while indulging in Italian truffles. We all need to take time for our physical and emotional needs. Amidst all the bustle of life, we cannot afford to neglect ourselves. It is important to remember to enjoy things both big and little, like the beginning of a new day, good health, lack of traffic on the road, a favorite song on the radio and a delicious piece of chocolate.