Why I Cancel Appointments Without Guilt Now — (and What Sacred Skin Rest Looks Like When Lady Flo is Here)

 

There was a time I’d push through everything—deadlines, classes, appointments—even when my body was begging me to slow down. But not anymore.

Now, when Lady Flo arrives, I soften.
I cancel. I unplug. I listen.
I let my skin, my spirit, and my cycle breathe.

This is what I call sacred rest. And it’s beautiful.

There is strength in surrender, grace in slowing down. For centuries, women have been told to suppress their cycles—to hide their pain, power, and patterns. But I believe in reclaiming this rhythm. I believe that resting is revolutionary.

I Cancel Because I Care (About Me)

Sometimes, period days are hard for me, especially when I've been exhausted on the days leading to it. Before, I pushed myself when there are "important" things scheduled like classes. I felt guilty if I had to cancel. Back in school, I used to feel bad when I had to skip school because I was sick. I was a sickly child and had many days out of school. This guilt carried through adulthood. 

I digress. I've seen a documentary a few years ago saying there are laws in India for women who are having their menses. They are allowed to take a few days off from work. A quick Google search revealed some conflicting facts. I know I have Indian Glow Girls, could you clarify this please? I know that some companies are offering 6 days paid leave for periods every year. India is one of those cultures that observes and respects the sacredness of a woman's cycle. 

My Glow Girls around the world have shown me—our cultures may differ, but our bodies speak the same language. Pain, fatigue, intuition. Sacredness.

I've been contemplating since Sunday night whether to push through with Tuesday's lessons. I was in pain the whole day and night. I was weak and exhausted on Monday. I knew I needed to rest, but the guilt was creeping up again. Afternoon came and I decided. Enough of this guilt. No more. I need to rest. My body needs to rest. They're not bleeding. I am. And they will respect that. So, I texted the studio manager to cancel lessons for the next day. I told him why. No performance. No apology. Just truth. And truth, spoken without flinching, is the softest kind of power.

After he acknowledged my text, I felt relieved. And happy. I stood up for myself. I honored my body. I honored the sacred rest that I needed (and still need as I type this post). 

Honoring Lady Flo helps me heal physically and emotionally. Every time I say no without guilt is my way of respecting my body and my health. It's a way of empowering my emotions and mental health. Every time I say no, a chain tethered to the past breaks. I am not here to repeat the cycles of shame. I am here to create new ones—of softness, sovereignty, and stillness. I look forward to the day when all the chains are broken. 

Canceling isn't failure. It's feminine power.

And feminine power doesn't shout. It simply refuses to move when the body says stay.

Sacred Skin Rest: My Ritual for Days 1 to 3

I not only physically rest during this time. I also let my skin and my detox organs take a break. 

On Day 1, I stop all lotions, creams, and all skin products. I'm extra sensitive during this time, and I get more rashes and flares. No pressure on my skin - she's already working hard. This is not indulgence—it’s intelligence. My body detoxes. My skin follows. And I follow her.

Oh, I did use some calendula mist on my face because it was too dry. This mist is gentle, healing, and a soft whisper to my face. 

On Day 2, I reintroduced hydration slowly. It was just lotion on my legs, not my thighs, not arms. I also spritzed some calendula on my face again and applied Laneige and Dr Jart+ Cicapair in the morning. Nothing at night. 

Day 3, I applied lotion on my body as usual. No calendula. I'm trying to see if I'm reacting to it. Laneige, yes. Dr. Jart, yes. 

My body is bleeding. She’s doing sacred work. I don’t need her to process more than she already is.

Resting is Radiance

Canceling plans and skipping skincare isn’t lazy—it’s intuitive beauty. Every act of stillness gives my skin and soul time to reset. Rest is when I receive—not produce. And in that softness, my glow returns.

The algorithms may reward hustle, but my glow? My glow blooms in stillness. In choosing softness over striving.

What I Do Instead of Forcing Productivity

On Day 1, I chose to prepare a simple breakfast of pandesal and luncheon meat. We ordered in for lunch and dinner. I also took a 2+-hour nap. I watched Netflix. But, I was also able to blog. I didn't force it. When the keyboard called, I simply answered it. 

On Day 2, I was feeling stronger. I decided to cook shrimp kare-kare while I still had the energy in the morning. I reheated some burritos and served them with leftover KFC macaroni salad for breakfast, along with some apples. Lunch was the kare-kare. 

For dinner, I asked my husband to reheat leftovers from the fridge. As for work, I was able to do a lot of writing. I got up every now and then and watched some Netflix, too. 

Day 3, today, I made Nutella French Rolls for breakfast. I'm still thinking what to cook for lunch. I'm a little tired and sleepy again, but I'm determined to finish this blog post. 

I also applied some Vitamin B5 hand cream, gently massaging my painful hands, while my son serenades me with Fur Elise. 

I also took another pause to inhale my Sacred Inhaler blend, which I will share with you in another post. 

A few deep inhales. A sacred pause. A moment to remind myself—rest is not resistance. It's remembrance.

The heavens just opened up and now the rain is falling. I wrap myself tighter in my cardigan. Rain during Lady Flo's visit makes me sensitive to cold. Perhaps it's also heaven's way of making me rest today. Cold weather always calms my system, relaxes me, and makes me sleep. 

Today and for the rest of Lady Flo's visit, there will be no pushing. No scrolling. No noise. Finally, I realized. I don't need to "earn" rest. I deserve it. 

So here I am. Wrapped in warmth, writing not to impress, but to remind you (and myself) that being isn't about doing. It's about being fully present with ourselves—even when we're quiet.

To the girl who feels bad canceling—hear this:

There is no guilt in grace.
No shame in softness.
When your body whispers “not today,”
please believe her.

You are not lazy. You are listening.
And that’s the most powerful kind of beauty there is.

Need an instant lift during your cycle? Here’s my favorite Lady Flo inhaler blend.