This week’s instalment of my self-care story goes a bit lateral in the interpretation of this theme.  It’s been a week of all sorts of interesting and unexpected moments.  The kind of sights and sounds that have been uplifting, energizing and inspiring.  Rather than just sharing things I ‘do’ to self-care this week, I thought I’d share some things that I’ve felt and seen instead.

This letterbox with its red rose motif.  There’s so much character to be found on the streets of Annandale.

In a move that’s perhaps counterintuitive to the self-care theme, I actually spent less time on my makeup on Friday.  But it was all for a good cause.  I had to get a few lumps, bumps and dark spots lasered off my face.

Here’s the spendy sunscreen from the dermatologist that I had to slather on after the fact.

That whole less make-up thing was really confronting for me.  I’ve gone to work with a full face of makeup for the last decade or so and in that time, it’s been a kind of armour.  It’s often projected more calm and poise than I felt able to bring to the working day.   I’ve also looked upon my efforts with the face paint as a nod of respect to the people I see at work.  That their sharing of their problems and themselves with me is worthy of me putting both my best mind and face forward for them.

So it was different fronting up on a regular day with nothing but sunscreen, concealer, mascara and eyeliner (that was the ‘bare minimum’ I could tolerate for a proper day at work).  I did wonder if the team would recognize me and if looked up for the job.  But just for a moment.  It honestly didn’t matter once I started my loud clacketty clack up the stairs and across the lino at work….

My appointment was in the city and as usual, I was irrationally fascinated about being let loose there on a regular working day.

The unexpected homely touches of cafes that only open for trade during the week in the more corporate streets around George Street.

The view from a floor-length window on an upper level of one of those anonymous-looking office towers.

A hasty lunch on my lap (and a possibly illegal one… but don’t tell) in the train back to work.  Of all the days I chose for my weekday city adventure, it would be the very one that featured an all-day meltdown of our great city’s train and by extension bus network…

Some witty displays at the entrance to some of the eclectic stores along King Street in Newtown.

They all made me smile widely as I speed-walked back to the office.