Confession: I have been down on myself and overwhelmed lately. I feel like I have no business even talking about it because I have not been trying very hard at self-care. It’s like I have to earn the right to admit that I am – once again – overwhelmed and lonely. Everything from taking my medication regularly to eating to personal hygiene has been faltering. There have been unavoidable changes in my schedule, worrisome news in my family, and the pressure of the holidays crashing in on me. When I feel like I’m drowning and my chest is in a vice and I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the day let alone the next hour . . . loneliness and hopelessness overwhelm me. They speak louder than grace toward myself, self-care, self-respect.

I doubt that I’m alone. And so here I am simply saying: take as much care of yourself as you can. Don’t be ashamed for being overwhelmed. Don’t listen to those voices in your head that say that you are a failure and broken beyond repair. Don’t be silent. You are loved and you are not alone.