A Healthier Me, A More Independent (Part 3)

A Healthier Me, A More Independent Me (Part 3)

Taking care of myself is not about perfection—it’s about learning what works for me.

After learning to rest without guilt…
and after beginning to understand how I see myself…
I realized something important:

Taking care of myself is not just one thing.

It’s not just rest.
It’s not just mindset.
It’s not just pushing through.

It’s everything together.

For me, living with cerebral palsy means my body and my stress are deeply connected.

Stress doesn’t just stay in my mind.
It shows up in my body.

There are times when I let the smallest things build up, and before I even realize it, my body feels it.
My balance feels off.
My movements feel harder.
Everything feels heavier than it should.

I’ve had to learn that stress is not something I can ignore.

Because when I do…
my body reminds me.

And that’s not always easy to accept.

There are days I don’t want to slow down.
Days I don’t want to listen.
Days I just want to live without thinking about how everything affects me.

But I’ve learned that independence for me doesn’t mean pushing past everything.

It means understanding myself.

It means knowing:

• when to push
• when to pause
• when to reset

That’s where my tools come in.

I’ve found peace in things like:
meditation,
tai chi,
Pilates,
yoga,
and writing.

Those moments help me come back to myself.

They help me slow my mind down…
so my body can follow.

Writing especially has become a place where I can release everything I’m holding in.

Sometimes I don’t even realize how much I’m carrying until I put it into words.

And when I do…
it feels lighter.

I used to think taking care of myself meant doing everything right.

But now I see it differently.

Taking care of myself means:
showing up for myself,
even on the hard days.

It means giving myself grace when things feel off.
It means not letting frustration take over who I am.

Because yes—there are still moments when I get frustrated.

There are still times I feel like things are harder than they should be.

But I also know that I am strong.

I know that I am capable.

And I know that my independence does not look like anyone else’s—and that’s okay.

This is what a healthier me looks like.

Not perfect.
Not easy.
But aware.
Growing.
Trying.

And maybe that’s what independence really is—

Not doing everything on your own…

But understanding yourself enough to live your life in a way that works for you.

✌️😊💛
— Marie W.O.W.C.P.
Seeing the beauty between the challenges.