It seems that last Thursday, the reality of everything I have been through in the last year, up to and including the passing of my mother, was weighing on me like a ton of bricks. I could feel the weight in my being, my mind and my soul. I suppose that is part of grieving. I kept trying to work, get things done, going through the motions without accomplishing much. Then I realized, I can't do anything right now except take care of me, or as my dad said, "Crawl under a rock and lick your wounds."
So, I asked myself what I felt most like doing, and it was curling up under a blanket with a book and hot chocolate. I am not a hot chocolate kind of person, in fact I rarely eat sweets. But then I learned these last few months that when times are tough emotionally, chocolate gives you that feeling of love. (I believe there is some scientific fact to this regarding serotonin levels, but this is not my forte'.) Getting back to my story, I did just that - curl up with a book and cup of hot chocolate. It felt wonderful to do that on a weekday at 4:00 in the afternoon. Then 5:00 rolled around, it got darker, and I asked my husband how he felt about me moving over to the couch with him, sharing my blanket and watching a movie with me, with popcorn of course! He jumped at the idea. I haven't made popcorn for years, and it added just that right amount of celebration and fun to the movie party. We watched a fun movie "Man of the Year" and welcomed in the evening smiling under a blanket.
I am slowly nursing myself back to mental and spiritual health.
It turns out that my friend, Inge, over at African Vanielje, spent Sunday being lazy, too. Check out her post on it here.
If you have trouble like I do being lazy, take some lessons from dogs and cats:
You ask, "Then what are you passionate about today, Jeni?" BEING LAZY! This is not something that comes easily to this always busy and moving woman, but I learned how healing it can be. I am sure that with the holidays upon us, things get hectic and we forget to care about ourselves. Try to find a small chunk of time to renew your spirit and nourish your soul with a little laziness.
What does a lazy day (or even a few hours) look like for you?
Have a passionate Monday (and Tuesday, and Wednesday...)!
15 comments:
Jeni,
I understand the need to be lazy and take care of yourself. Good for you, following your prompting to slow down and enjoy something.
I needed that reminder myself.
Tamara
Tamara, I KNOW you need it as much as I do. Take it easy on yourself!
Those dogs sure know how to relax! They’re gorgeous.
Being lazy for me means hanging out in bed and reading in the morning or staying in my pajamas until lunchtime (like now!). It’s hard to slow down sometimes, but I agree with you that it’s vital for our spirit.
I have a very, very hard time doing that...there's always so much that needs doing...
You're right, though, we all need to do it more often.
Love your wee beasties!
You're not being lazy, you're taking care of yourself. sometimes that is hard work, especially accepting that being tranquil is exactly what you need to do. It takesa long time to heal from losing your mother and the first year is a year of firsts. Sounds like you know how to be kind to yourself. Marla
Chloe - I'll take some lessons from you on laziness!
Katie - yes, it is difficult to do, but a good practice. I'm glad you like my babies.
Marla - sounds like you understand. Yes, it's quite a healing process. Thank you!
I love lazy days....or weekends for that matter. Sitting in my bed writing...fab-u-lous!!
Jeni, unfortunately I need no prompting to be lazy. It is my natural inclination and I jump at it every chance I get. A book and hot chocolate, so much the better. Are those your dogs? When I was a teenager I had two German Shepherds. The most amazingly gentle, loving, loyal, intelligent dogs ever. I would love to have more dogs but unfortunately do not have an enclosed garden and if dogs are caught worrying livestock here they are put down. To be honest I can't see confining a big dog to indoors so we're just not able to have a dog right now. I'll just look at yours and Sognatrice's and live vicariously for now.
Inge - I have some lessons to learn from you on being lazy more often! Yes, those are my babies. German Shepherds are wonderful, aren't they?
Yes yes! I have trouble not feeling guilty when I just want to lounge around and read, but like you said, we all need it sometimes. Everything that needs to be done will still be there waiting when we're done being lazy ;)
Sognatrice - you, too, huh? Yes, we have to remind ourselves of that. :-)
What's lazy?
I looked it up in Websters and they said as long as I'm in school I am unauthorized to access it's definition.
I'll find out when I am done, I guess!
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
Scarlett - you crack me up! Can't even students be a little lazy on Sundays?
Thanks for stopping by my blog some months ago, I have been away from blogging for a while and desperately need to catch up on others.I will definately be checking in on yours more often.
I used to feel guilty taking lazy time out when I had a business to run, though being in Italy has slowed me down so much and being lazy is certainly easier to do here.
Shirley - we Americans have a lot to learn from those Italians on the lazy/slow/dolce far niente life, eh?
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