Tag: take time for yourself

All or Nothing

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That’s the type person I’ve always been. Sitting here covering a blank page with thoughts, this page began as a title sitting in drafts waiting for some love.

When I was taking care of the yard this summer, I’d water all of the flowers whether they needed it or not. My daughter would look at a new plant and exclaim, “Thrive or die!” 😂 While some needed water directly, others would catch the overflow from the rain head and receive a little anyway, but with me holding the hose, there wasn’t a time where a flower received absolutely nothing.

I’ve been thinking about taking some time off from work and received the greenlight from my Team to do so next week. Friends are already asking, “What are you going to do with your week off, or what do you have planned?” My response has been, “Absolutely nothing”. I have some things in mind, but it’s mainly little things I’ve pushed aside while working.

I want to sit on my bench in front of the fire pit with a steaming cup of coffee and tend a fire. I want to drop notes in the mail to friends and have ordered some cards with each person in mind. I might give the bathroom a thorough cleaning because it’s been wiped down each week, but it needs some love. The only thing on my calendar for next week is a date with a man who I’ve put off meeting over work.

I want to find that fine line between all or nothing and sit there for a while. To quiet the mind and let my heart lead the way because the past few month’s personal lovefest has resembled nothing. That’s the thing about love my darlings. It doesn’t need to be all or nothing.

Self Care Sunday

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I texted my daughter, “When you walk out of Whole Foods with a French baguette, hearts of Romaine, and Stumptown Chocolate cold brew?” She replied, “Sounds like self-care to me!”

Sunday feels like an appropriate day for self care as it was planned to be. My work doesn’t offer much time off on Sunday, so I’ve been watching for windows of time on Monday or Wednesday. Have to admit though, Self Care Monday doesn’t sound the same! 

Writing is a form of self care because if I see an hour of sacred space opening up, I’m gonna write. I wait for it and start typing. For me, it’s not about finding the time to write, it’s about finding the sacred space. We will make time for what’s important, and writing is like breathing to me. It hasn’t always been that way, but it became that way after clicking publish 100’s of times.

A good gauge for selfcare is my neighbor. The more often I can walk over and spend time with him, the better. If I don’t see him all week, it’s time to look at my week. Sitting with him on his front porch, he took one look at his dog and said, “I’m taking an hour this week just for me.” He gives a lotta love to dogs and they are spoiled, but he knows he needs some time without them.

I was happy to hear him say that.

He knows taking time for himself, even for an hour, will make him a better person to be around. Maybe we can’t take a full day and call it Selfcare Sunday, but we can carve out some time for ourselves when it’s important, and I believe it’s vital.

There are seven days in the week to choose from, so pick one. Name it and claim it as your very own self care Sunday.

Weekends Are Sacred

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My weekend begins at 5:01 PM on Friday’s. That is when my phone shuts down until Monday.

I have two jobs as a Virtual Assistant and one is on the weekends, but I’ve had that job for 7 years. It began as my way of staying home with my daughter and making a living after leaving my marriage. It’s been reliable in that sense, but I had to set boundaries.

My first thought this morning was, “Life is not hard. Life is what we make it.” I woke up tired. It’s been a busy few weeks. It was ever so pleasing to know it’s Friday.

My daughter walks by my room and tells me, “I love your bedroom.”

I catch her standing in the doorway staring at it. Since the redo beginning with Under the Bed, it has the feeling of a retreat. When you work from home, you need a room like that. When I walk into my room, I leave work behind.

table

I’m sitting in the middle of my bed and here’s what my bedside table reveals.

Two out of three Hydrangea blooms that have been with me all week. A small Voluspa candle, because I couldn’t decide what scent I liked best to buy a big one. A large Voluspa candle is a commitment. My favorite ink pen and a water bottle for the weekend.

Someone asked me what I was doing this weekend and I said, “As little as possible.”

My weekends are sacred.