What do you do in your free time? Since I’ve become a mom, I’ve answered that question with, “What free time?” That wasn’t completely fair. My kids always had a relatively early bedtime. Then, as they got older, they didn’t need to be entertained quite so much so I’ve always had free time.
Too much of my free time is sucked up by the TV and Facebook. I’ll be honest about that. I love to read but I’m quicker to pick up my phone than a book. And I love documentaries but I’m quicker to watch sitcoms (to continue the honestly, I really love sitcoms too).
I’m not really sure what got me started thinking about the subject of relaxation this morning. I just had the realization that although I’ve been home sick and I don’t feel like I’ve really accomplished much, I don’t really feel like I’ve been relaxing either. Not in the luxurious spa day kind of way. That realization made the last year seem like a double waste of time. Which I guess is just what sickness is.
The majority of the people I follow on Instagram focus on wellness, and self love is a trending topic right now so I’ve decided that it can’t possibly hurt for me to put some thought into that area and at the same time, encourage you to as well. So let’s think about it: what does relaxation look like to you?
For me it means being completely present in a blissful moment. Enjoying a massage, savoring that piece of chocolate, riding the crescendo of a piece of music, being immersed in hot water, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin.
There are two things that stand out to me from that list: First, that all of my senses are engaged in the moments I’ve listed. Second, when I’m sitting on the couch, watching TV, none of my senses are engaged! No wonder my mood has been miserable since I’ve gotten sick. No wonder most people get depressed when they’re ill. As if the illness wasn’t enough, it’s almost like your soul dies before your body.
It’s funny to think, at least for me, the things that make me feel relaxed are the very things that make me feel most alive. In order to feel alive I need to both stop the monotony of the day to day and check back in. I have to feel. I have to create a blissful moment and experience it fully.
So to bring this back to the question what do you do in your free time? And answer in the trendy wellness guru way: I practice self love. I will not wait for next Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day or whatever for someone to do it for me. I promise myself I will create these blissful moments because I deserve them. It’s time to relax.
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