In class, Saturday, we had a visit from Randy Persad, self care advocate and silence specialist!
He came to get our cohort to start thinking about self care and it's importance in our lives.  Now, as an RMT who actually had Randy as a teacher, self care has been a subject impossible to avoid.  Mainly because without it, I cannot do my job properly, I also cannot be a good mom, spouse or friend.  I learnt that the hard way, a few years ago.  After a few years of difficult emotional times for our families, I fell deep into my introverted personality and retreated from everyone and everything, except my kids.  I had lost touch with my spouse, my friends and family, I was unable to connect. That is when I was reminded about self care and it's importance, I left for 10 days of absolute silent meditation at Dhamma Surahbi in Merritt, BC.
That was by far the hardest and best thing I ever did for myself.  The first 4 days were terrifying, I cried, had insomnia, I was in actual physical pain.  Close to 12 hours of meditation and absolute silence at all times leaves you very vulnerable to all that your brain has been hoarding.  Years and years of stored memories and experiences come back to flood your consciousness, and there is very little you can do to stop it.  By day 5, your brain starts to calm down and accept the meditation focus, your body follows suit and the pain subsides, sitting for all those hours is starting to feel good. From day 6 on, it is pure peace and calm, there is no more war being fought in your heart and brain, your mind is settled and you are happy with the silence.
Day 9 and a half, you are allowed to start talking, but I didn't feel like it, just listening to all the chatter in the centre was overwhelming to me, I sat in the courtyard listening to the noise from afar.
It took a full week before I started playing music in my massage room again.  Clients would comment how quiet and peaceful I seemed.  I was again able to reconnect with my friends and family, it was no longer painful and difficult to be part of society.  The 10 days of silence had allowed me to regenerate, find myself again, and mostly, give up holding on to all that pain.  I have since been back to Dhamma Surahbi 3 more times, each time I experienced an new set of emotions and pain, each time, I came home renewed and reconnected.  Since my first silent retreat, I have tried to incorporate meditation and silence into my life, I quite often ride the bus with my earbuds in but no music playing, eyes closed, meditating, not sure if I am fooling anyone, but that's ok with me!
My self care practice involves making sure I find time alone to reboot daily.  I also allow for me to get one treatment a week either Massage Therapy, Acupuncture or Energy Healing.
Of course, when I can find a spare 12 days, I fly off to Merritt for some silence and meditation.