One day not long ago, I had a small chunk of time just for myself- alone, with no work to do for the moment. This is such a rare thing in my life, with a toddler to raise and a business to run. When these precious moments do come, I often find myself hardly even knowing what to start with. I always have a mental list of things to do when I get a bit of alone time, but I had no idea what I really needed the most.
So this time, I decided that I should just do nothing. Life can be so fast-paced- I very often feel like my mind is racing constantly to keep up with everything, and what I was craving the most was peace. I sat down and allowed myself to breathe deeply and think, but not dwell, on everything that currently makes up my world. I tried to let go of all of each thing as it came to mind. I observed my own thoughts, attitudes, and emotions, and connected with myself in a way I haven’t in so long.
Giving myself permission to slow down, to be still for a while, and to calm my mind, was the greatest gift I could have given myself, and ultimately my family as well. I returned to my day feeling so restored and centered, wondering why I don’t intentionally make time for such a simple thing more often. I felt a keener sense of my priorities after just thinking quietly for a while. I no longer felt overwhelmed. I felt so deeply thankful for my husband and my son, and everything I am blessed with in my life, and it changed the way I interacted with everyone around me.
We have all heard over and over again how important it is that we take care of ourselves. While we know that we should, it is not always easy to find (or make) the time. I have come to realize that self-nurturing makes me more productive, when I make it a priority. I often find it difficult to work past the feeling that I am being selfish, but it is important to remember that it isn’t true. We must fill our own tanks in order to be able to pour into others. If I go too long without setting aside time to just nurture my self, I am less patient with my family and more easily overwhelmed by all my responsibilities.
I have decided to make a point of spending some time each day simply doing nothing, and allowing myself to regroup– even if it is only for ten minutes. I am confident that this time of stillness can make a very significant impact on our minds in the midst of a busy and often overwhelming world.
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