Relaxing

It's been a lazy spring day – and I don't think I exaggerate by using the term “lazy”........I haven't done anything productive today. The surprising thing is that I'm perfectly okay with that.

I really intended to do a few things this morning. Instead, we went out for a drive and ended up at the local store. We found hubby some socks on clearance, a couple of t-shirts on sale.....and I found some Lindor truffles on the clearance rack. I guess you could call that productive.

I didn't make lunch, either. We cleaned up leftovers. I walked up to the beauty shop and got a haircut. Then we ended up going through the drive-thru and sitting at the park while hubby had a sandwich. The outside walking trail was getting good use today, including what looked like a girls' P.E. class from the high school.

When we got home some friends were standing outside enjoying the sunshine. We joined them and then went to their apartment for a short visit. So now the afternoon's almost over, I'm just now getting to my blog, and everything else I'd planned to do today still needs to be done. That gives me a head start on my planning for tomorrow!

The funny thing is that I don't feel guilty at just enjoying the day. Strange. I think as I get older, I'm more comfortable in my own skin. I feel okay doing what I enjoy and not worrying what other people think. Most likely I'll over achieve tomorrow and catch up on the things I didn't get done today.

I think it's good to know the world won't come to an end just because I didn't do the ironing today. My mother-in-law, who's a very dear person, always tells my hubby to make sure I take care of myself and have what she calls “me time”. That's a concept I've been trying to embrace for quite some time. Embracing is one thing......implementing it is quite another.

I was raised to work hard and do whatever needs doing. As an adult, I worked hard raising a family and doing all the things necessary to accomplish that. The majority of the time I was also working outside the home. Even after the kids were grown, I worked hard at making and taking care of a home while also working full time. Once in awhile I'd get to the point I had to step back and take some time for myself. But it wasn't part of my normal routine.

For the past several years I've tried to make sure I take a little time for just me now and then. I highly recommend everyone figure out a way to do that and enjoy it. Sometimes I still feel a little guilty – after all, I was carefully raised to not be selfish. But giving myself a little time to do something I want to do really helps me stay on a more even keel. And occasionally treating myself to something I don't need but want accomplishes the same thing. It does a body good to take some time to recharge once in awhile.

Tomorrow promises to be another beautiful day. But I think it will be a day to get some chores accomplished.