Put yer own oxygen mask on first

That is the subject of this month's happiness project and by April 30, I hope to add a tag line of "how I got over feeling guilty".

Happy wife, happy life, they say or happy mommy, happy baby. Yet, when I think about doing things for myself, I often shy away because I feel guilty - for asking for time away, for spending money on a non-necessity etc etc. When I do finally have time to myself I feel like I should rush through it so I can get back home where I have responsibilities.

So, if I imagined a guilt free world, here's what it would look like and I'll attempt this for the month of April.

Have lunch once a week with a friend - I started this one a week early by seeing my friend Julie and loved catching up with her. I'll add to this one to get together and do something fun with Kat once this month.

Engage in activities that give me joy no matter how long it has been since I've done them or when I'll get to do them again: Try different yoga classes and teachers. Sing something every week.
I've always been someone who sticks with what they know, yet I love trying and learning new things. Stepping out of my self constructed box and trying new things in this world could mean: taking a hot yoga class (so I might throw up, who cares?), trying a yin yoga class or a vinyasa class. Singing has been a challenge usually due to time but of late because of illness and the length of time it is taking me to get healthy. Hopefully I'm on the upswing and will be capable of vocalizing this month.

Schedule time for those girly upkeep things like haircuts and eyebrows.
I always feel guilty asking for time on the weekends, but am then miserable when I don't do anything or get some time alone. Perhaps if I put those items on the calendar they will happen and I won't feel badly about them.

Try out something totally new.
Maybe it is a concert, or listening to a new kind of music, going to the rock climbing gym, making a new recipe or doing a class. Who knows, just try it.

Have date night at least once this month.
Most nights during the week we see each other for some length of time, but it is brief and not devoted to each other and involves things like bathing the child, cleaning up the kitchen or sitting comatose in front of the tube. So time doing something we enjoy is a good way to reconnect and is something that has to be prioritized or it won't happen.