When times get tough, the tough get hugs

I sent this to a friend who was faced with a difficult decision, one that impacted the way she saw herself and her future career in the field of animal care. I know I sometimes need reminders like this, so I'm making this available to the world. It's nothing new, but I've found that the more time passes, the more true it rings:

1. Put your own health first. Write down your priorities if you must, as a reminder: "Me, my loved ones, the rest" Make sure you are getting everything you need to be as healthy as possible before tackling the rest. Establishing formal guidelines will make the hard decisions a little bit easier. (and yes, you MUST put yourself first, or find yourself eventually incapable of being any good to anyone else.
   
2. When you have to make the hard decisions, forgive yourself for what you could not do. Remind yourself that you are human and being the best human you know how to be. You wouldn't ask more of anyone else, so don't expect more from yourself.
3. Keep acknowledging your emotions and KEEP MOVING. There are going to be days that seems almost impossible, and in that case break your activities down into manageable chunks. Don't think about all you expect yourself to do, just focus on *one thing* and then move on to the next thing.
4. Remember, there are people who love you no matter what. Love yourself, no matter what, because we aren't wrong to love you and you are a gamble worth taking!
5. Lastly, get a hug, or a kiss on the nose. Just something tactile. We mammals need it.
   
   All of the above can seem overly simplistic, but it's what I know deep inside (and from experience) to be true. Also, putting into practice is really difficult, so it's not as simple as it sounds.