03/12/2026
Put Your Oxygen Mask on Yourself First
With all the snow we have been getting, a winter escape can feel like pure magic. Sunshine instead of shoveling. Salt air instead of icy wind.
A couple weeks ago, my husband Mike and I took my aging mom to California to visit her grandson and my brother. For her, a trip to the grocery store is a big outing, so this was huge.
I came prepared with everything she would need: wheelchair, transport chair, shower chair. But I also needed to plan for me.
I adore my mom. She introduced me to yoga, earth-based spirituality, energy work... so much of what shaped who I am. And she is also a lot for me. Her mobility is not what I wish it were, and supporting her requires patience and steadiness. If I am not grounded, my inner teenager shows up: judgy, flustered, impatient.
So self-care was not optional. It was essential.
I packed my favorite teas, my journal, earbuds for meditations, and a couple of MFR tools. In the mornings, I sat quietly outside with my tea. In the evenings, Mike and I walked along the ocean. Each time, I could feel my body soften.
Before I left, I scheduled MFR and energy treatments for when I returned home. I lightened my work schedule so I could re-enter gently.
The goal was not just to get through the trip. It was to come home feeling like myself.
When I did, I was able to fly home Wednesday night and return to the office Thursday afternoon steady, present, and regulated, not depleted.
Travel can restore us. But only if we bring the parts of ourselves that truly support us along for the ride.
As you plan your winter escape, ask yourself: What do I need to bring so I can return home more like myself, not less?
Read the full blog post on our website: https://www.transformmfr.com/tmfr-blog/put-your-oxygen-mask-on-yourself-first
