Getting Out More

Yes, it's true. I'm getting out more. Okay, okay, I get out plenty,...but not in the way I should. I've always been very driven, a very hard worker. It is my primary focus most of the time. Even my husband will tell you, when I was a stay-at-home mom (many years ago), I was very driven at trying to be a good mom, wanting to keep a clean house, and be a good wife. It's when I work outside our home that the driven part of me...has a hard time dividing properly.

Since I became a teacher, thirteen years ago, it has been my primary focus other than my family. Now, my family is all grown and gone. So, I focus more on my job. But...life isn't a job. And though my work is much more than "a job" - it's a calling - I still needed to look at my overall priorities. I am very passion about what I do. However, we all need to pull back, sometimes, and re-evaluate how we spend our time.

I've now taken up a new goal from a good friend: get out more and live a life you enjoy. Yes, I can still be driven and passionate about teaching reading. Absolutely. But I need to practice more genuine 'down time' to fill myself back up with good things I enjoy. 

And you know what made me question whether I really do this enough or not? A coach. No, not a life coach - just a regular, middle school, athletic coach. That's right, a coach at my school. 

Here's the story of it:

I was making copies in the teacher workroom, not too long ago, when one of our coaches came in and saw his pile of work was in my work area. He was concerned his stuff was messing up my workflow, so he apologized and moved his stuff out of my way. I said, "No worries, Coach, I'm easy-going." And he laughed. Laughed?

Not only did this give me pause, I gave him crap about it. Teasing, actually. He's an older man, and I adore him. And he knows it. So, it's okay if we pick on each other from time to time. Our classrooms were side-by-side last year, so we know each other well. We know each other's stories and our teaching styles. 

But, still, I gave it some thought. And, later, when I brought it up to him again, I said, "Hey, Coach, isn't it possible to be focused and passionate AND easy-going?" And the old sweetheart chuckled again at my silliness. 

"Do I get to plead the 5th here?" he asked with a wink. 

And while that old softy has no idea how much he made me re-evaluate how I live my life, he most certainly did. He's been through a lot in his personal life. He lost a wife, at a fairly young age, to a heart disorder that, eventually, also took the life of one of his sons. I can't imagine. I truly...can't imagine.

I began to think about how I spend my 'down time" and how I need to do more with it. Enjoy life more. Get out more. Let people I love know how much I love them...more. I do those things, of course, but not nearly as much as I should. I needed to add an easy-going stride in my life...somewhere. 

So, yesterday, I met friends for tea and an impromptu trip to a bakery. I also spent some time with my beautiful grandchildren. Today, I went with my oldest daughter to brunch at a place she's wanted to visit. Later, we're going to a museum to enjoy some art together. 

And while my work is very important, and I love the children I teach,...it's time to make time on my weekends for the most important part of my life: my actual life. We only get one, you know.

I hope, reader, this inspires you to get out more and do things YOU enjoy!

Missing Me

I love being alone.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being around other people, too,...but it's a real luxury these days to be alone with just myself. This weekend is the first time I've have quiet solitude in over a month (and I wasn't getting very much of it even before then). I define 'quiet solitude' as being alone with nothing that has to be done and no place I have to be.

For this weekend, I left all my work at work and promised myself I would not think about my job after I walked out of the building on Friday. I made sure I did not commit any of my weekend time to social activities. And, while I love my family, I let them know I needed time to myself. They understand, they know how I am. Outside noise and activities begin to collide with the noise inside my head, and it all just gets to be too much. Quite frankly, I was desperate to shut the world out for awhile.

I'm happy to say Mother Nature has given me the perfect weather for my quiet weekend. It's been raining, soft and steady, since Friday morning. The world of sound has been muffled for awhile, blanketed by autumn rain. There is a slight chill in the air, perfect weather for curling up with a quilt beneath the shelter of the patio and reading a good book while I enjoy a hot cup of coffee. What more could a girl want?

Why do I like being alone?

I miss me. You know, the real me. The me who isn't busy being what someone else wants or needs. I like being able to hear my own thoughts without interruptions or distractions. I like to do what I want with no one paying attention. I enjoy my own company. Some people think it's odd to want  to spend time alone. I think it's odd for someone to always want to be around other people. To each her/his own, I always say. I only know that, occasionally, reclusiveness is something I need in order to keep my sanity.

What do I do when I'm all alone?

I read, of course, but I do other things, too. I listen to music, dance around the house, take long bubble baths, enjoy a good wine, write, go on long walks, and...I tend to talk to myself now and then. Yes, out loud. I also read out loud to myself, from time to time, if what I'm reading tempts me to do so,...which reminds me to tell you about the book I'm reading that tempted me from the start.

I'm currently reading Kate Morton's new novel The Lake House. So far, I'm really enjoying it. I'm not quite sure if it's because of the book itself or because I'm just so happy to have time to read. Or maybe it's a little of both? Either way, I'm a happy girl. I love the way Morton's characters describe how they feel and  describe their surroundings. This novel takes place in Cornwall, a place I've visited and love, which makes the book even more interesting to me. I'll review the book properly when I finish it.

I have to go for now. Kate's book awaits, along with a few other relaxing things I have planned for myself before the weekend is over. Once it ends, I will happily rejoin the world and be a much better human being. I will be refreshed, renewed, restored, and ready for the next round of whatever life brings me.

I hope this post finds you well and enjoying your own weekend. I also hope you're treating your brain to a really good book.

Happy reading!