Category Archives: #MusWidNov2015

#MusWidNov2015, NaBloPoMo

Taking a break

Think taking a break is wasting time? Not necessarily…

This year I’ve taken the time to breathe a little bit more than I have in the past few years. Responsibilities to work, organizations, and projects take so much attention and often feel like the most important thing at any given time.  I can’t let anyone down!

But, while am I so worried about letting others down, I end up letting the most important people down. Namely taking one-on-one time to reconnect with my husband when he’s actually home. Or what about just taking care of myself?

Sometimes you HAVE to take a break to realize doing so isn’t “wasting time.” It can be, instead, the most precious and important time you spend all week. (Cue “Cat’s In The Cradle” right about now?)

I would not deny that my husband and I probably eat out way more than we should. We could save money eating at home, sure. But its when we go out to eat that we sit across from each other and talk. If I cook at home, we inevitably sit in front of the TV and watch it instead. Then we clear the plates away and dive into our computers. Are we getting things done? Yes. Is it important stuff? Yes. Are we connecting? Not really.

So I’d rather “waste money” and “waste time” traveling to and from a restaurant to sit for an hour to talk without interruption. To catch up. The check in with each other.

We all have responsibilities. Work makes sure the bills are paid. Organizations are so important to so many of us. We need to finish this next big project. But its okay to take a moment, look around, and remember WHY you do everything you do. Don’t forget to take a break for a few minutes today. You just might end up feeling more motivated.

The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
Bertrand Russell

#MusWidNov2015, NaBloPoMo

Daylight

I put daylight as the second photo prompt of #MusWidNov2015 because we just “fell back.” With this change, if you’re a night owl like me, your chances to see any daylight are slim these days.

With this photo prompt, I’ve had the Rascal Flatts song, “Prayin’ For Daylight” in my head all day.

I’ve gotten better about it, but when I first got married and moved to Nashville, I found myself waiting for daylight to go to bed. All alone for days at a time, while my husband was out on the road touring, I found a level of safety to sunlight. I didn’t mind (much) the noises of our apartment complex, letting any hammering, mowing, or traffic lull me to sleep as soon as the first rays of sunlight streaked across the sky. I felt safer knowing there were others stirring in the area. I didn’t feel as vulnerable.

I’ve remained on night watch through the years. In every house we’ve lived, I’ve learned the neighborhood’s patterns. I became the unknown security watch, peeking out my windows any time I heard something that seemed out of place. I felt this self-imposed responsibility to my neighbors to keep watch out for them, so they could sleep peacefully all night long.

Today, I’ve become more comfortable, I suppose. I love trying to get to before sunrise, letting the darkness of night wrap around me, and lull me to sleep.

Every day, though, I get up and go straight to the kitchen. Before I even make coffee, I open all the blinds and let the daylight stream in at me. Sunny days. Rainy days. Good days. Bad days. For the entire day, or for less than an hour. It doesn’t matter. I open the blinds and let the light stream in. Then I make coffee. Daylight + coffee is my formula for starting every day right.

Do you need sunshine for a good day? Or does it matter? Maybe you’re a rain lover and find joy in that? Tell me.

I remember being on a black-and-white set all day and then going out into daylight and being amazed by the color.

Jeff Bridges