I know all the mantras and all the checklists. You are enough. You are important. Self nurture. Practice self care. You are love.

Knowing what I should do and actually doing those things can be very different realities.

I dreamt that someone had given me a baby to care for; named, interestingly enough, "Content Elena". Often when a baby appears in our dreams, it represents a part of ourselves that we are neglecting; a part of our lives that needs attention.

I get the "Elena"; it's a spin on my own name: "Leiana". My inner child needs love and attention. Every year, it's the same song and dance for me. I spend the holiday season in a frenzy of work and getting all the things done before my weekend festivals. The spring inside me gets wound tighter and tighter and tighter.

Self care is something I know I should be doing. The more frantic and stressful your life is, the more you need self care. I need meditation and down time now more than I do during the slow summer months, but instead of doing what I know I should, I push my needs to the side and decide that I'll worry about that after the holiday season.

I need to stop. I know better. When my stress seeps over into my dreams, it's more than a normal wake up call.

It's time to take a step back. It's time to unplug and stop worrying about all the things that need to be made or listed. It's time to look within and remember that self care is crucial.

During the whirlwind of the holiday season, we all need to stop the frantic pace. We all need to spend some quiet, quality time with us. Remember how important we are. Take some time and take care of yourself.