I used to think "self-care" was about bubble baths, but now I realize it's mostly about the quiet, constant work of noticing when I'm starting to lie to myself. The lies are so subtle at first, a blurring of edges, a convenient forgetting. It's less about grand deceptions and more about the slow erosion of my own integrity through small compromises. I'm learning to feel the friction of those choices now, the tiny stings that say, "Not quite honest." I used to think of self-care as a reward for "good" behavior, something earned after pushing myself to the brink. Now, it's more like preventative maintenance on a car I plan to drive for a very long time, frequent small adjustments to keep everything running smoothly.