Self acceptance is one of those things that sometimes seems impossibly hard to achieve. But why is that? Why is it that it is so hard to accept things about myself that I would fully support in a loved friend? 

Life is a process. It is a learning process. Learning to let go of outcomes and to observe rather than to control. Control of anything is impossible. It's impossible to control what my kids do. They will be who they are and all I can do is to observe and support. Control of any other person is simply not possible. Trying to control my own thoughts, feelings, emotions, is also impossible. I know that I am doing the best I can with what is available to me - my energy, the skills that I have learned from my life experience. I do not need to try to do more than that. 

If I need time alone, I need time alone.

If I need sleep, I need sleep.

Sometimes I can easily meet those needs, sometimes not. But I can't control those needs. I can support myself in terms of the food I eat, the rest I take. Whole hearted self acceptance is key.

Things that I am learning

Doing one thing at a time is far, far, far better for mental health than trying to do two or three things at once.
Being alone is absolutely essential to my mental health. Bring resentful when I can't have time alone is not helpful.
Communication with other people, even with people I've known for a long time, is hard. It's ok that it doesn't cone easily to me.
It's ok to say less than others.
I feel better when I'm not surrounded by clutter: clutter is not just some thing I can ignore.
I tend to accumulate (craft books and fabric) when I want to feel better. I would be much much better going for a walk somewhere green.

While I love being on my own, I find that sitting doing absolutely nothing for 15 minutes is not easy for me. It may be that the need to be on my own is more to do with avoiding being drained by other people.

Making a list of things that need to be done is helpful. There may be things on the list that will never be done. The helpful thing is to have it on the list so that it doesn't keep popping up in my head. Crossing things off is good, too.