What would you do if you were taking care of your human being? 

This is a great question that really made me pause to reflect. 

How might we access our human heart blanket? (see poem below in the ps)

  The images above are from the 'William Morris and Art from the Islamic World' exhibition at the William Morris Gallery in London. It was brilliant, find out more here.

When we are born parents and adults take care of us. Then we spend time looking for someone to spend life with. Then we might have children and take care of them. Then what?

Throughout all of this did you forget that at some point you became aware that you are the one that takes care of your human being — to be clear: you take care of you. Accessing your human heart...

— What impact does that have on your goals, ambitions, dreams?

— What impact does that have on how you have just spent the weekend?

— What impact does that have on how you go into Monday and what will be another full working week for so many of us?

I know for me the idea that I approach my life from the lens that I take care of me changes my attitude.

A side note, did you notice how I haven’t said ‘I take care of me first’ or stated a priority over who is important in the list of people… I believe that everyone in my periphery is important — yes, that includes you— and that framing my intention to life by exploring how I take care of my human being only enriches that. 

— What happens when I take care of my human being? 

I do more of the things I know are good for me, which I was previously avoiding. Yes, I take my vitamins and HRT with more consistency! 

My goals and ambitions become less ‘worldly’. Perhaps this means my definition of success is expanded. Actually, it does mean that. I also approach myself with more compassion and kindness. I am less ‘mean’ with myself and don’t tell myself off as much.

— Do you ever reprimand yourself for something you’d never pull a friend or family member up for? 

I know as I read the list above I’m aware that these are things I’ve wanted to do for some time but for some reason they remained on my unwritten ‘to do list’. 

I’m going to give you a direct invitation… can you spend two minutes right now reflecting on what you would do and how you would be if you were taking care of your human being? I guarantee that this two minutes will pay dividends for the rest of the week.

For me, it has been the odd moment or so for sentence that has resulted in mind drop moments which have expanded my insight or made me aware of a new perspective.

That is open to you now when you really connect with the question above. 

All my best,

Saiyyidah

The Space 

PS —New dates are available for The Courage to Belong retreat taking place virtually from 21—23 February 2025. You can find out more here. 

In the retreat we will be sharing and reflecting on poems like the one below... 

the human heart blanket

vulnerability doesn’t mean telling others what happened to us from across a cafe table or from behind a microphone

and then going home from the experience feeling just as alone as you did before

vulnerability means allowing your human heart blanket to get sewn to other heart blankets

it’s about connection

we don’t share for status

we do it for synergy

we don’t confess for clout

we do it to build community

we tell our tale

to invite others

to tell theirs

it’s the sacred cycle

of storytelling

we gather in a circle of trust and

say “here is my journey”

then we listen to

the other journeys

that are shared

we take space

then we give space

we pour

then we absorb

we speak

then we listen

we are storytellers

then we are witnesses

vulnerability isn’t just about

grave digging in our past

to expose our skeletons

it’s about sewing quilts

here is my patch

here is your patch

here is their patch

here is us

here is our story

~ john “patchwork heart” roedel

Remember to take a look at The Courage to Belong retreat!