The Back Burner: Why Tomorrow Never Comes (Until You Make It)

There’s a funny thing about self-care when you're the one who’s always giving it: it’s usually the last thing on your to-do list.

We are always the last to take care of ourselves.

Lately, I’ve realized I haven’t had a massage in a long time. Not because I’ve forgotten its value. I’ve built a life around this kind of care… just not always for myself.

You’re holding so much—maybe it’s a business, maybe your kids, or just the weight of keeping it all together. And somewhere in there, your care gets shelved.

You start to feel the tightness that doesn’t go away, the sighs that never quite release anything. You tell yourself you'll rest tomorrow. But tomorrow never quite shows up.

Here’s what I’ve come to understand—it’s not that we don’t want care. It’s that somewhere deep inside, we’ve convinced ourselves that other people’s needs matter more.

But you can’t pour from an empty cup. And more importantly, you weren’t meant to.

The nervous system doesn’t care how strong or selfless you are. It knows when it’s overloaded, and your muscles are in a constant fight-or-flight. When your mind keeps telling your body, “Not yet.”

That “not yet” is a slow leak. One that leads to burnout, resentment, and sometimes illness.

So here’s a reframe: Taking care of yourself first isn’t selfish—it’s strategy. It keeps the healer whole, the parent present, the leader clear, and the friend open.

This week, I made a promise: I’m booking my massage. Not because I have time, but because I’m making it. Healing isn’t just something we give. It’s something we deserve to live in, too.

If this resonates with you, let this be your nudge.

Don’t wait for a crisis to reclaim your peace. Book it. Breathe. Start now. Because you, too, need care. Not someday. Now.