Why You Should Treat Yourself with the Same Care You Give Everyone Else

A few weeks ago, on the way to Yosemite with my mom, we stopped in a small shop in Mariposa, California, the kind of place filled with handmade treasures, polished stones, artful crafts, and even framed butterflies arranged like tiny constellations.

And then I saw it - a simple silver necklace shaped like a leaf.
It wasn’t expensive or extravagant, but it caught me in that quiet, unexpected way beauty sometimes does.

For a moment, I thought, “I’d love this.”
And almost instantly, I told myself, “I don’t need it. Not today.”

So I walked away.
And I still think about it.

Not because of the necklace itself, but because it reminded me how quickly I dismiss the things that bring me joy. How easily I put myself last, even in small moments.

And I know I’m not the only one who does this.

Why We’re So Good at Giving to Others (and Not Ourselves)

Especially this time of year, we think deeply about the people we love.
We plan, wrap, prepare, and remember.
We want others to feel seen, appreciated, cared for.

But when it comes to ourselves, we hesitate.
We talk ourselves out of what brings us joy.
We forget to ask:

“What would make me feel cared for?”
“What would bring me joy?”

Not in a self-indulgent way, just in a human way.

Giving Yourself Permission to Choose Something Meaningful

The gifts we choose for ourselves don’t have to be big or practical.
They just have to mean something.

Sometimes it’s giving yourself permission - permission to choose something beautiful, something that makes you pause, something that reconnects you with who you are beneath all the responsibilities.

And often, art becomes that kind of gift.
A painting can be a daily reminder to breathe, to slow down, to notice what’s good.
It can bring peace into a room, a sense of belonging to your home, or a quiet moment of reflection to a busy day.

Art doesn’t just fill a wall, it fills a part of you.
It becomes something you live with, something that brings you back to yourself again and again.

(If you’re curious about personalized art that tells your story, you can learn more about my commissioned paintings  - they are one-of-a-kind pieces created to hold memory, meaning, and emotion.)

This Season, Leave a Little Room for Yourself Too

You’ll give so much in the coming weeks — your time, your heart, your care.
And all of that is beautiful.

But I hope you leave a small space for yourself, too.
A pause.
A breath.
A moment to choose something that lights you up inside, even if it’s small, even if it feels unnecessary, even if it’s simply because you love it.

Because you deserve joy.
You deserve beauty.
You deserve a gift that reconnects you to yourself, during the holidays and long after.

Sometimes the most meaningful gift this season
is the one you finally give yourself.

With gratitude and paint-stained hands,
Martina