Monday, March 1, 2010

Quilting Bee #45


Good morning all! Yes..it is Monday..I know..I need another Sunday thank you very much. So I headed off to our favorite donut shop here in town and bought several dozen donuts. There are chocolate on chocolate, maple plain, glazed, Bavarian cream, apple bear claws, and almond bear claws, powdered and sprinkled green for March. Jelly with lemon and blueberry and Long Johns with maple and chocolate! Of course that delicious Kona coffee and several kinds of hot tea. I have also set out a delicious array of cut fruit for you melons and berries. There is as always yogurt and homemade granola if you would rather. I have racked a cozy quilt today. So glad you could join me today, please pull up a chair!

As many of you know I spend a great deal of my week watching other people's kiddos. Some days I have more and the house is a full of noisy, joyous chaos. On other days only a couple and it is well, still loud LOL! I have taught in one way or another for about 25 years now. Add in hours of artwork, my wonderful family, shopping, cleaning, accounting for three businesses..you get the idea. So by Thursday my head is thinking about the weekend..all that I am going to get done etc. etc. etc.. So if you are like me Monday morning is often a reflection of what didn't get done over the weekend. I tend to overbook myself.

This Saturday I woke up feeling very blue. Not just blue.. but burned out blue. Generally a good walk in the fresh air will shake it. Or sometimes just that first cup of coffee. I am generally a happy person. So when I have a day...it kinda takes me by surprise. All I wanted to do was sit and do nothing. Not clean, not talk (really odd for me), not do artwork. I just wanted to sit and watch movies, sports or loose myself in a good book. I wanted to crawl into bed and snuggle up with a cup of coffee and be left alone. I fought it all morning trying to explain away my dragginess. Finally after my second cup of coffee and no change..I crawled back into bed..unheard of.. and turned on the TV. I sat there for a while before folks started peaking in and asking if I was ok...yup...doing nothing. That got some strange looks.

It was right then that it hit me. As I lay there under all the blankets watching the Olympics with the cat curled up next to me. I was relaxed, I was perking up, I was SMILING! You know in that ...ahhhhhhh sort of way...just sinking right into the pillows with your hands behind your head. Mmmmmm yes! I had given myself permission to just be. I was being present in that moment..I was listening to my body...yup that is what I needed.

I did not stay in bed all day...only for about an hour or so. But I did stay in my PJ's..and a bandanna. I watched movies all afternoon with a passion and just relaxed. I do so love "Forbidden Kingdom". I went to bed very early and woke up Sunday morning like a new woman! I was relaxed, I had energy I got alot of cleaning and artwork done...I woke this morning feeling like it was a good weekend all around.

So what is your point Sarah, you ask? Just a gentle reminder to take care of you. As the new month starts and we are heading for Spring and all of the activities it promises. As the new year rolls on and we get caught up in all of the things to do...are you listening to your body? Are you taking some time for you every week? As a Mom, wife, sister, friend, teacher, artist, photographer, teachers helper, caretaker, house cleaner, shopper, nurse...well you get it..I'm like you...do you stop each week and find time for you? Cause I don't know about you..but in the day to day hustle and bustle..I forget to carve out some time for me each week...each day. To meditate, pray, walk, read, watch a movie, or just plain do nothing at all for a whole day now and again. Maybe if I had remembered to do a bit each day..just for me..I would not have needed a whole day and night to recover! Because seriously I am a much better Mom, wife, teacher, artists, friend, helper etc. etc. when I am not burned out! Are you taking care of you?

So please share with us today what you do for you each day or week..to take care of your own needs. Or maybe you need to..tell us what you would like to do for you each day or week!! I do so love it when you come and join me here!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

I think I will have some of the watermelon..the delicious mouthwatering smell is calling me. I think I may need a good strong cup of coffee too!! What can I get for you? Hugs and Namaste, Sarah

11 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Good for you, Sarah, for taking the time that you needed!

Diva Kreszl said...

I love the new banner, the colors are just gorgeous! Sometimes we just need to take a little time off to recharge our batteries, it's taken me a long time to learn and listen to my body. Do nothing is okay!

Cindy said...

I think it is great you went back to bed and watched movies all day. I had to laugh when you said you got some strange looks. Sarah I so look forward to Monday mornings, that is my alone time. My hubby goes back to work and I just putz in the house, turn my ragae music on and all is good in my life. thanks for the fruit, I passed up the donuts...oh I have such willpower. lol. Take care.

CiCi said...

You have so many people around you so much of the time. Good for you to take some time for yourself. It is only hubby and me in our house but sometimes I have my down time too.

clairedulalune said...

Hello there Sarah! So glad to hear that you had some good quality time to yourself, and that YOU gave yourself some good quality time! Good on ya! Yep, sometimes everything needs to go on the back burner even just for a wee while! PS: So happy the wee witch flew safely to you! ((hugs))

Unknown said...

oh Sarah!!! I need to find more time for me...this is a wonderful post and a great way to start a new month...I think I will start planning "me time" this week!!! thank you!!!

and I could go for some watermelon!!! yummmmmmmmmm

Brenda LaBell said...

Good for you Sarah!! I don't know how you do all of the things you do not to mention the patience you must have. I get my grand kids every weekend by Sunday I am so ready for them to go home. I love them more than anything but this granny needs quite time!! BTW pop by my blog I have a little surprise for you.

((Hugs))
Brenda

yoborobo said...

Sarah - this is so true! Why is it so hard to care for ourselves? I am making myself stop for at least 20 minutes every day. I can read, or nap, or look out the window, or drink a cup of tea and stare at the cat, it doesn't matter. And you know what? I feel so much better! I'm glad you 're-booted'. Have a great week - xo Pam

Anja said...

Great post!
Tell you the true, I don't take much time for myself... not as much as I need. But my husband and I did went to wellness center this Saturday and it was great. Hours of relaxation and we both enjoyed this time together very much... it was our first day out (without kids) in 4 years...

Unknown said...

What do I do when those days take place. I stay in pj's and lay on the couch, watch all my shows I missed earlier in the week(thank gawd for DVR). I whallow in my nothingness. Then like you after a few hours I get up and get busy. Taking care myself having fibro is watching what I do, eat, and sleep. If I go overboard one day I pay for it the next. So I take my time, which is weird because Im a all or nothing person till fibro hit me bad. Then I think WWRD...and I sit my ass down on the sofa and relax. I love you Sarah, and thank everyday I have you as my dear friend.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

brandi said...

~i am delighted you embraced yourself and the time you truly needed...a few months ago this hit me in the face...exhausted, i said i am just going to lay down and slept for almost 13 hours...hhmmm lesson learned...i wake early already and have learned to embraced that time for just me...i light a candle, read my tarot each morning, 1-2 pages of meditation and sometimes just sit in silence and BE...my husbadn said once...you have so much time in the morning think what you could get done? i said, yup i am getting ME done, this is MY time for ME...i felt guilty for oh maybe a minute but have accepted if i do not do for myself i have a huge amount frustration and exhaustion that builds and or feeling neglected...so i try and i am so happy you did the same...may you welcome spring and the warmth to come with lightness within...brightest blessings~