What do you do for you?

[mira]

One of the subsections of this section is personal development. Wondering what others do to nurture that within themselves. Aside from possible church connections what do you do for you?

[forHISglory]

A major part of my life is church. I don't participate there just for my own personal development, but rather to worship and serve the Lord. However....... along the way, the most wonderful thing happens: I find personal satisfaction and development!

But I also continue to teach night school, even though I am retired, and I keep up with academia in my field. I still go to workshops in my field.

I read, read, read. Almost anything is fair game. I just like to keep my mind active. And I write. That keeps me mind nimble, also.

I always figured if I didn't learn something new each day, then that day was wasted.

[HisDaisy]

A major part of my life is church. I don't participate there just for my own personal development, but rather to worship and serve the Lord. However....... along the way, the most wonderful thing happens: I find personal satisfaction and development!

I could not have said it better. Many of the things that give me the most joy and personal growth revolve around my faith.
I love music and playing my flute gives me great joy. Most of the music I play is either hymns or praise music.
I also study God's word and that helps to keep my love of learning alive.
I am graduate student and research and problem solving also help me develop.
Another side of me is my crafting, which using do for others. I love to make baby blankets and other items for others. That helps me develop my giving side.

[Clutterbug Jen]

Jigsaw or Logic Puzzles help me to unwind.

Also work on my plastic canvas making things for charity.

[elphie]

Reading, writing, and discussion are important for me. I love to read memoirs about people who are on a journey of discovery (which most memoirs are). I am always amazed at how similar the human experience is and how I can learn something about myself from someone who seems so completely different from myself on the the surface. I also read a lot of spiritual books. I am a Christian and I study the Bible but I also read Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, and anything else that strikes me as interesting. I journal to help me sort through the lessons I glean from these. I also have a wonderfully open Bible study group where nothing is off limits. We don't always agree but we always respect each other and I have learned so much from this very diverse group of people as well.

With all of that though, I think the thing that keeps me the most grounded is service. Service to those in need, to my family, and to my God is at once spiritually exalting and humbling.

[cab54]

Knitting , quilting, crosswords, running, and sometimes yoga.

I also like a hot bubblebath once in awhile.

Also, I like to sit and do nothing in the morning for awhile, except sip my coffee and look out the window----and remember when I was always 'shot from guns' out of the bed, making breakfast, finding lost clothing, shoes, and bookbags, dealing with grumpy dh and ds's, driving to and from, sitting on freezing cold bleachers in an ice rink at 6am, sitting on freezing cold bleachers at football games at 10pm,......... etc.etc.

[perSue]

I do yoga.
I live a minimalist life - so I require very little.
Very little food, time to myself, money, experiences... etc.

So I do yoga all through the day - cooking, cleaning, picking something up... I throw in a little stretch or move here and there. So I feel like I'm doing something extra.

[Lady_V]

reading, writing, knitting, crochet, all forms of needle arts, self manicures & facials

[mira]

Thanks for all of these great replies. You are all helping to keep me on track with remembering to do for me. Since we are in the middle of unpacking a new home, starting a new school, etc it sometimes gets a bit overwhelming. Nice to hear what others do and remind me that I need to do that too.

Especially the knitting