You can’t pour from an empty cup
A gentle reminder to root down and refill
Have you ever heard someone say, “You can’t pour from an empty cup?”
In the world of education, parenting, and caregiving, we say this often because, let’s face it, these roles are hard. Constantly giving, supporting, and holding space for others… it’s beautiful, meaningful work. But it can also quietly deplete us if we’re not careful.
We give and give and give, until the giving feels heavy. And sometimes, we forget that we deserve to receive, too.
Self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.
Yet how often do we actually treat it that way?
How often do we postpone rest, joy, or nourishment because it doesn’t feel "productive"?
In grad school, we actually had a class dedicated to self-care. At first, I was surprised. An entire syllabus centered around boundaries, burnout, and rest? But that course planted a seed I’ve been tending ever since.
The truth is: I’m still learning what real self-care looks like. Not just the trendy version, but the kind that actually restores something deep inside me.
And maybe you’re still figuring it out too.
What comes to mind when you hear “self-care?”
For me, it’s not always bubble baths and spa days.
It’s the quiet, nourishing things that bring me back to myself.
• Puzzles and sudoku
• Quiet time on the deck with a warm drink
• Yoga that meets me where I am
• Long walks with the dog, just breathing in the fresh air
For you, maybe it’s getting your nails done, going to a cycling class, baking something from scratch, or simply reading this post with a moment of stillness.
Whatever it is, it counts.
It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive or Instagram-worthy.
It just has to be yours.
This is your sign. Your permission slip.
Maybe this post found you right when you needed it.
Call it timing. Call it grace.
Either way, let it be a gentle nudge to turn some of your care inward.
Not because you’re behind.
Not because you’re doing anything wrong.
But because you matter. Your energy matters. Your well-being matters.
So today, however small or simple it may seem, do something kind for yourself.
Breathe. Stretch. Journal. Laugh. Sit still. Nourish. Feel.
You can’t pour from an empty cup.
But you can refill it, one gentle act at a time.
✨ Want to go deeper?
I made a printable journal just for this. 10 gentle prompts to help you refill your cup.
Let this be your root moment.
And just like the trees outside your window, you were never meant to bloom nonstop.
You were meant to root down first.
Let this be your reminder that even in the rain, even in the overwhelm, you’re allowed to pause. You’re allowed to nourish. You’re allowed to grow quietly beneath the surface.
Because care, like roots, starts unseen.
And from that grounded place, we rise.
🌿 In the rain, we root. In the wild, we grow.
