We went on an extended family vacation with my parents and my siblings and their families, 7 days on a cruise ship. With Sweet Girl and her 4 cousins, there were 13 of us. We created a lot of great memories, of course, and it was the typical trip with kids… someone whining because they are hungry or tired or just being a normal 3-year-old, someone not wanting to do what everyone else wants to do, and some tired parents needing a break that wasn’t coming. I was doing my best to enjoy the time but still looking forward to being home again.
However, on the drive back home, I was seriously dreading all that awaited me there. This happens to me at the end of every single vacation! I thought about what exactly it is that I’m resisting. Of course nobody is overjoyed at doing 3 loads of laundry, at cooking and cleaning and grocery shopping, or at the usual operations of a house. I did a brain dump of all my tasks and that helped get me organized. But I still felt overwhelmed!
What do you need to radiate today?
Today I came across this question and immediately paused. I have unpacked. I have vacuumed. I have made 3 meals. I’ve gone through most of my emails. I have a kid laying on the couch with a virus and a very long project and task list. What would help make dealing with that feel better?
My very first thought was to head here to my blog and write. Next, I decided not to sign up for an art school drawing class I was going to enroll in this morning for the fall semester. Paring down projects into manageable chunks helps too, as does seeing all my projects on one piece of paper. I feel better already!
I have never been good at having tasks listed as unaccomplished. I like getting things done! However, more and more times I realize that there is no way it can all be accomplished right now. Some projects are meant to unfold over time.
What do I need? I think I need more tiny windows of space for myself… a mini me-cation right in the middle of the day, where I intentionally put down my load. Because honestly, I haven’t really stopped and relaxed! I am thinking of how to structure that around childcare and appointments and tasks, but maybe it’ll just be reminding myself to stop for 10 minutes and calm my mind. OK, I’m off to try it right now!
