Our “vacation” officially ended last night as we drove back to Dallas from the in-laws’ beautiful lake house, but we still had today as a vacation day as well. I was happy to sleep in and relax around the house with a book for awhile, but I had errands to run that I knew I had to accomplish today while I had the chance. We had plans this evening, but thankfully the rest of the day was free for me to take my time and do what I needed to do.
I got my oil changed and some other maintenance work done on my car, then I realized how hungry I was. I was practically around the corner from the giant Half-Price Books that I love so much, so I decided to head over there and eat lunch in their cafe.
I had been there probably 20 minutes when I glanced at my watch, almost out of reflex. My sandwich was half-gone, I was close to finishing my book, and I realized that I was perfectly content, sitting at the cafe table, in my own little bubble of quiet. I had nowhere that I needed to be other than where I was. So, I stretched out that moment of stillness as long as I possibly could. I wrote in my journal. I read the rest of my book. I finished my lunch. And I was supremely happy.
It’s easy to forget how important just taking some time for yourself can be. We’re always in such a hurry–somewhere to be, something to do, even on the weekends when we impose that sense of rigid order on ourselves. But lately I’m trying to learn to let go of my need for structure a little bit, and just let myself be still sometimes. It feels good, like a creative recharge. I guess it’s hard for my creative voice to be heard when I’m always talking over it. Baby steps, one at a time, starting with lunch.
Word Counts - Today: 0 | June: 0 | 2008: 4,473
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
The Host: A Novel
One Hundred Years of Solitude
The Buccaneers (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century)
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