i wake up,
eager for the freshness of a new morning.
and then i realize the flip side.
i’m another day older as well.
will i be wiser too?
one can hope.
but what if i don’t learn anything of value today?
what if i waste 24 hours in this life of mine?
it could happen.
because – let’s be honest – some days it’s just exhausting to think, isn’t it?
i’m having one of those days today.
i read this quote this morning by fred white:
“Writers travel both figuratively (via the imagination) and literally in search of unanswered questions and higher truths and to recover that which has been lost – a sense of purpose, a renewed sense of what is sacred.”
yet, some days, the words do not come.
and maybe that’s okay.
maybe some days things just need to gel.
events and conversations, written passages and previous thoughts.
perhaps that’s what mr. white meant by recovering “that which has been lost.”
last night i read a captivating poem by samantha reynolds.
it was entitled “maybe it’s not presence but absence that we need.”
yes, maybe.
maybe once in awhile we don’t need to be fully present.
maybe we need to wander in our heads instead.
be truant from our schedules.
take a “french leave” (a departure without ceremony or permission).
play hooky from our lives.
sleep on it.
maybe these are the times to let our unconscious thoughts ramble.
to eschew introspection.
and allow the ungraspable.
the times when dreams finally become concrete.
and visions better formed.
[a potentially crucial boost to our continued well-being and creativity.]
after recently relocating my physical address,
and while currently transitioning my business,
i sense my mind and my body telling me that it’s time to decompress.
and actually that is okay.
because the time out will ultimately culminate in something bigger.
tomorrow i will implement my new plan of attack.
today my brain is taking a much-needed hiatus.
adrift in the beauty of maybe.
in the midst of chaos, mr. smith is still able to relax . . .
do you ever indulge in mental health days?
how do you choose to spend them?
adrift in the beauty of maybe . . . ?
please share your thoughts in the comments.
Beautifully stated. After being knocked out with a sever cold/flu virus the other week I realized that even though I may feel relaxed at times I don’t really take the time to fully decompress and take care of my body, mind and spirit. I’m glad you are listening to your inner wisdom.
yes, disa – sometimes it seems as if the only time we take it easy is when we’re sick (and then it’s not much fun!). so important to nourish ourselves.
Interesting look at embracing the idea of relaxation to keep us going. I’m a huge believer in that concept. I don’t want to be going 100+% all of the time. Relaxation and reflection makes my productive times more effective and more progress is made. Thanks for the post.
insightful observation, carol, about how relaxation makes us more productive. and i especially like the fact that you included “reflection” in the mix.
Adrift in the beauty of maybe. . . ? This statement alone has great possibilities. Highly focused people have trouble letting things take anytime off. I know it’s true for me especially if I’m locked in on a specific protect. Yet some of the best ideas I have ever had have come from a long drive.
i love this, fred! allowing ourselves the luxury of letting our minds drift a bit, not be so focused for awhile . . . i usually get my best ideas while in the shower. π
I love this!
Everyone needs a break. I recently came down with a throat infection and even then, I was cleaning and trying to organize stuff. My friend called me out on it and said, just go to bed. Watch a movie and chill out.
Sometimes, it’s giving ourselves permission to do nothing that can be the biggest challenge!
wow, kristi – cleaning and organizing even while you were so ill! but i agree – it’s hard to just let things be sometimes. great advice from your friend.
A lot of people watch TV incessantly in order to be absent.
Yet to be truly present does not contract with what you do, or not do. Presence is who you truly are. To be who you are is effortless, natural… unless you put extra meanings, ideas or definitions to “being present”.
i guess i define “presence” as your core essence, kemila – who you really are deep down, what makes you unique. but i view “being present” differently. it’s difficult to be consciously aware and in the moment at all times. but that’s okay – i think it’s actually beneficial to let yourself experiment with the idea of “absence” once in awhile.
Hi April! Oh – we really all need to “play hooky” every now and then. Whenever I feel that it is just one of the days that simply will not be productive at all workwise, I take my dogs and we drive to the beach to take a long walk. When I get back home, I’m always hungry, totally relaxed and ready to get back to work again :-).
i love the image of your “beach with dogs” mental health day, nathalie. thank you so much for sharing. π
“be truant from our schedules” – I LOVE that phrase!! I am so not good at playing truant, but that phrase so appeals to me. Lovely post.
maybe my “truancy” phrase appeals so much to you, tora, because it’s exactly what you need! π thank you for the nice comment.
I like the depth of this piece. The idea of absence over presence on occasion made me think. It’s been tough for me to take mental breaks, but I’m starting to see their importance. Your message and several others on this subject have come my way recently. It’s time to listen to them.
thanks, dr j. interesting that you’re hearing this message over and over again lately. i think you’re right – it’s time to listen!
SO TRUE! So often we practice being present to everything around us that we forget to be present to OURSELVES. And it’s true that sometimes some decompress time is just what the doctor ordered!
great insight, rick! we’d better do as prescribed. π
Thanks for such a sweet reminder. Going a drift always rejunivates me…we should schedule it our day…LOL
lovely thought, eva – scheduling “go adrift” right alongside “meet with client” and “buy groceries.” sounds like a fabulous plan!