Today marks 2 weeks that I’ve been off work ~ two whole weeks! Yes I’ve worked some, I have to or what will greet me on my return will resemble an avalanche. But two weeks! Here are a few things learned over this delicious break:
1. The power of sleep. I’ve gained a new appreciation for sleep’s ability to restore & renew. With no schedule I’ve slept longer, deeper and better in the past 10 days then over the past 365. I can see sleep’s gifts in my face -lines softened, bags retreated and even my hair looks healthier.
Sleeping like a kitten in the sun! Google.images.com
2. The comfort of quiet. I’ve resisted the urge to fill my days with “to-dos” and have perfected enjoying my chair, sipping coffee and reading books. The T.V. has stayed off; the phone is silent. Chores and tasks remain and Jimmy Cracked Corn ’cause I don’t care!
This is only half of my book haul!
3. Enjoying real foods when actually hungry. Not being on a schedule means that I don’t eat lunch because it’s noon; I wait until I’m hungry and sometimes that means lunch is at 2:00 p.m. instead. I’ve enjoyed my Nutribullet smoothies, fresh pears, clementine oranges, old-fashioned oatmeal, and Greek Yoghurt throughout the course of the day ~ and felt lighter, energized and satiated. There’s something to this that I plan to continue.
4. Taking a break from everyone else. Other than my immediate family I’ve not seen anyone else for two whole weeks! We have a 90th birthday party to attend on Saturday. Three weeks ago this would have felt like one more event shoe-horned into an over-scheduled schedule ~ today I find myself looking forward to it.
5. Understanding .. or not. A work colleague expressed disbelief at my long winter’s break and dismay that I wasn’t getting on a plane to go “somewhere.” To her, time off is not time off unless you’re traveling to some exotic destination. I frustrated myself trying to explain my stance to a person who is never going to get it and ended the conversation with this, “because I need it.” And there it is, folks.
“Never forget that once upon a time, in an unguarded moment, you recognized yourself as a friend.”
― Elizabeth Gilbert
When was the last time you did something just for you? What was it and what did you learn?
