“Sign. Sign. Everywhere a sign.  Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?”

There are signs all around us.  You see them every day, and quite frankly, you may have become immune to them because they are always there.  I am amazed at the number of people who come to the stop sign at the top of the street leading into our development and don’t stop.  Did I miss the memo that said the sign only applies to certain people?

There are temporary signs for political candidates.  Even though I do not like these signs, they are a reminder that I live in a country where I do have the freedom to vote, to choose candidates that I think will best serve our nation and the needs of its citizens.

There are signs of the times we live in:  “open for curbside pick-up”, “open limited hours”, and “congratulations class of 2020”.   There are temporary signs to support causes, promote business services, birthdays, and more. Yes, there are physical printed signs everywhere you look.

Have you ever thought about all the signs in your life?

I’m sure you think about the printed signs but what about those that aren’t printed, the ones that come from nature…from you?

When you walk outside, what do you see?  I see signs of life in the plants, trees and animals.  I see signs of healing from the sunshine and energy from grounding with the earth.  I see signs of renewal as yards are kept manicured and landscaped.

When you awake in the morning, what do you feel?  I feel signs that I’m alive, renewed and ready to face the day ahead.  Okay, reality check:  I haven’t felt this way every day since this whole pandemic set in, but I do strive for that and most days it happens.  The way I start my day is usually a sign of what’s to come.  From there, my conversations, actions and attitudes are all signs of how my body is feeling.

Signs – printed or not – mean you have choices, and each choice you make brings a reaction, something you have to deal with as you move forward.  Have you ever thought about all the signs in your life and the choices you make because of them?  I’m talking about the life signs, the ones that are not printed and posted.  How do these life signs affect your self-care practices?

Life signs are living, breathing signs that need attention every day.

You know, the signs that tell you it’s going to be a wonderful day or that your stress levels are rising or that you need to do a course correction in your lifestyle.  Life signs can help you live the life you desire, but you have to start paying attention to what they are telling you.

I firmly believe that paying attention to the life signs is important to your self-care practices and your state of well-being.  When your body is tired, you rest.  When your body has pain, you find the root cause and address it.  When your body is energized, you do the activities you enjoy most.  Every part of your body is a living, breathing sign, and when you pay attention to the signs you can find your way to self-care that’s right for you.

Some life signs to consider

• Headaches are a sign.  Are you stressed?  Have you been looking at a screen for too long?  Have you been drinking plenty of water?  Do you have allergies?  Whatever the reason for the headache, you need to find the root cause and address it.
• Digestive issues are a sign.  When you feel bloated and uncomfortable after meals, what’s your body telling you?  Bloating and gas occur when waste builds up in your large intestine (aka colon).  If left unchecked, this can lead to constipation and a whole host of other issues.
• Dry lips and/or mouth are a sign.  Dehydration can lead to many aliments with early aging being one of them.  Staying hydrated – especially as the weather heats up – is important for your body to function.  Drinking half your body weight in ounces of water each day is the general rule of thumb.  Life – just add water!
• Sugar cravings are a sign.  Did you know your body doesn’t actually crave sugar?  In fact, sugar cravings are a sign that you are dehydrated.  Drink a glass of water and see if the cravings subside.
• Low energy levels are a sign.  You are an energetic being so when your energy levels are low, your body has trouble functioning at optimal levels.  Rather than turn to coffee or a sugary energy drink, try walking barefoot in the grass for ten minutes.  It’s called grounding and it helps the body to rebalance its energy.

Life signs appear every day in many different ways with impactful effects.  What signs do you experience?  What impact do they have on your self-care practices?  Are you ready to listen and pay attention?  Are you ready to do just one thing each day to let your life signs help you live your best life?

Tune into yourself and look for your life signs.  You may find positive signs that say you’re headed in the right direction.  You may find other signs saying you need to make a course correction.  Whatever your encounter, I encourage you to listen and react in a manner that is life-giving.  I’d love to hear about your life signs and what they mean to your self-care practices.

Until next time, stay positive and be well…