Daily Gratitude: Even though I’m not big on all the emphasis we put on time, I do have to face reality (sometimes anyway). When you feel stressed, the need or request to do something else adds greater stress – even when it’s something that’s meant to distress you. I’ve found myself doing that recently. For nearly two years I was allowing myself a massage every week. It was time just for myself and it was also helping my overused muscles. But since becoming a death doula and starting to volunteer – all on top of trying to train for this year’s Vol State, there hasn’t been enough time to get the massages. I’m sure that’s no big deal to most of you and it really isn’t EXCEPT for what it symbolizes. Part of being a death doula means you’re supposed to be available. That means on little or no notice. I don’t have any problems with the idea but it messes with things you have scheduled. So the “big deal” about my not being able to get massages is that I am having to adjust to a different way of life and not rely on scheduled activities as much. I am ok with this as all of these things were my choice – I could say “yes” to the massages and no to one or more of the other activities. Or I could say “no” to the massages to free me up for the other things. That’s what we have to think about. We have a choice to say “yes” or “no” and it’s our responsibility to be aware of that every single time we say “yes” to something. Somewhere down the road that yes will turn into a “no”.