The Bed

I was listening to a podcast on empowering women recently. As this public figure told her story I felt compassion for her and much of it resonated with me. However, when she got to a certain part I started to shut her down and started feeling not good about what she was saying.

She started telling me what to do. What works for one doesn’t work for everyone. She said count to 5 and jump out of the bed in the mornings. This is where I started shutting down. I’ve never jumped out of the bed. I’m not a morning person and I embrace the comfort of a place that holds me, listens to my thoughts, feels my tears, and comforts me amid grief and pain. A lot of prayers have been said in my bed. I’ve learned that my bed is my chair to heal and write. I love my bed so I won’t be jumping out of it after counting to 5.

Next, she said, make it up so you don’t crawl back in it. Okay, I make my bed most days but there are days I don’t. I mainly leave it unmade as an open invitation to come back if I feel the need. Some days you just want an invitation of comfort. A made-up bed to me means off-limits. As a child I couldn’t sit on the bed nor was I allowed to get back in it after it was made up. Our bed should never be off-limits.

Needless to say, I didn’t feel very empowered when she finished. I do feel empowered knowing what works for me may not work for anyone else in the world. I know I’m as different and special as a snowflake. God doesn’t make any mistakes and it’s okay to accept who you are and not feel like you’re not doing it right because some public figure tells you how to do it. Embrace and love yourself.