Do Nothing Weekend

OK - this post was to occur Sunday morning.  This morning as I reviewed the blogging sites I read regularly, I saw it had not posted.  In reviewing the details, I realized I had mistyped the date for it to post.  So, here is my Sunday morning post . . . 

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At the beginning of the year, I had, mostly by accident, a do nothing weekend.  There was nothing scheduled on our calendar.  My family was enjoying some down time after the holidays.  I had no big plans or ideas of projects to be accomplished - I just lived the weekend doing whatever it was that our family wanted.  I did a lot of playing games and reading those few days.  It was nice, not something that I would want to do all the time (for I love schedules and projects and marking tasks off a to do list), but a very nice change of pace. 

So, my planning brain decided that I should "plan" a do nothing weekend periodically.  Then the question became "When?".  The logic in me looked at the calendar and realized that the way January dates fell this year there were five weekends in January.  What if every month there were five weekends, I chose the first weekend of that month as my "off" days?  The idea sounded good to me, so I marked the weekend for April. 

As April came and things were crazy with work and home life, the "off" weekend was pushed to the end of the month.  Then we had a family celebration scheduled that weekend, so it was pushed out one more weekend.  And here we are . . . my scheduled do nothing days are here, just in time for Mother's Day.  :)

So as I write this Friday morning, I am starting my do nothing weekend.  I know I will be plenty busy, after all food and laundry and demands of children and picking up the house don't wait; however, I have no specific expectations of what I "must" get done.  I hope to relax and play and read more often than usual, and I am sure that there are a few projects that will get worked on along the way.  It has become more of a mental break for me, than a physical one. 

All in all - I am looking forward to a weekend filled with whatever is choosen to fill the moment. 

Trimming The Fat

Most all of us eat fat in our diet in one form or another.  Some of us eat alot of it, and some of us eat very little.  Fat adds flavor and aids in our cooking.  Too much of it can lead so some serious dietary problems.  

So it is with the activities we do . . . may they be considered "fat"?  Are they are the extras?  Some of the activities we may dedicate our time to are good - they add flavor to our days and help to keep things running smoothly - however, when done in excess they add challenges to our schedules.

Is there something you do that might be considered fat?  Maybe it might be time to trim some of the fat - not necessilary eliminate it all together, just trim it down. 

Something Beautiful

A friend recently asked me, "What is something beautiful you have experienced today?"  The question struck me because of the wording.  The idea is often expressed in, "How was your day?" or "Did something exciting happen today?", etc.; but the way she phrased the question stuck with me and prompted thinking.

Beautiful things are all around us.  The sun, the fresh air, laughter, smiles, quiet moments, the joy of peace - we each have those wonderful things in our lives that are beautiful.  My beautiful moment - the joy and love coming from seeing my children run to greet me and each other after a day of being separated from each other.  What is yours?  It could be something you see, hear, or experience - something beautiful.

 

We are teaching

"When we confront sadness, misfortune, and defeat with a gallant spirit, our children will learn to live bravely."

I recently read this quote, and almost immediately put it in my inspiration file hoping that is would prompt some great thoughts.  Nothing fantastic has arisen, but this truth - what our children learn, they often learn from us - keeps coming to mind.  


As I see character traits good and bad in my children, I wonder, "Where did they learn this?"  Do they see those characteristics, the good and the bad, in me and are imitating me?  Are they learning how to deal with life and the many emotions and circumstances of life by how I act and react?  OK, so it is really not a question . . . they ARE learning by observing me.  But, what are they learning? 

So often I am finding the character traits I see in my family around me that irritate and bother me the most - the ones, I would most like to see change - are the ones that I struggle with on a regular basis.  Those around me, especially my children but I think everyone who observes my life, learns a bit more on how to deal with all the wonderful and challenging things to come by how I respond and react to them all.   What are they seeing/learning?  Is it worth imitating?