Quiet time

Having the time to sit and enjoy a simple cup of coffee has somehow turned into a luxury. Imagine that! With a rare day off, I appreciated every sip, slowly savoring my morning and my coffee without immediately jumping into the next thing on my agenda. For a little while, there was nowhere I needed to be and nothing I needed to do. What a lovely way to start the day!

Of course, reality wasn't far behind. Before long, I was making a list of errands: vote, CVS, dry cleaner, return a package at UPS, drop another package at Staples, stop at the transfer station... and the list went on and on. By the time I finished writing everything down, I was left wondering how the heck I have time in my life to go to work at all! Seriously, when exactly are we supposed to squeeze in all the little necessities of everyday life?

It would be awfully helpful to have a designated morning, afternoon, or even an hour each week devoted to errands. Honestly, it feels almost like a necessity.  Between work, appointments, household responsibilities, and trying to squeeze in a little fun, the mundane tasks seem to multiply when we're not looking. And heaven forbid you put a few of them off, because suddenly you're running around like a lunatic trying to catch up.

So, even though I wasn't feeling fantastic and could easily have spent the entire day planted in my kitchen, nursing my coffee and enjoying the quiet, off I went. One errand at a time, I checked things off my list, feeling a little more accomplished with each stop.

At the dry cleaner, I inquired about fur storage and was delighted to learn that my local shop offers seasonal storage for furs for around $80 for the summer. Not bad at all! Apparently, they also include $100 in insurance with the service. Now, I'm not entirely sure what good $100 in coverage would do if something happened to a luxury fur coat worth thousands of dollars. It certainly wouldn't come close to replacing one. Still, it was good to gather the information, and I may just tuck my new-to-me mink coat away in the safety of a refrigerated vault next summer. After all, finding a full-length mink coat for the bargain price I paid was a little stroke of thrifting luck, and I'd like to keep it in beautiful condition for years to come.

The rest of my errands weren't nearly as exciting or enlightening, but one by one, I got them done. There is something satisfying about crossing things off a list, even if the tasks themselves are about as glamorous as watching paint dry. By the time I finally made it home, though, I was exhausted and more than ready to call it a day.

Poor Tim had grand plans for us to head out to a Halloween party. He loves Halloween, and under normal circumstances, I'm usually happy to join in on the fun. But this year, my body had other ideas. After spending the week trying to avoid whatever ailment he'd been battling, I was doing my best to keep myself healthy with vitamins, a little extra care, and an early bedtime. I simply didn't have the energy to rally, no matter how much I might have wanted to.

And so, Halloween festivities would have to wait for another year. Sometimes, even the best-laid plans need to take a back seat to a little self-preservation.

It's funny how a day off can end up being exhausting, especially when we fill every available moment with things that need doing. I started my morning appreciating the luxury of a quiet cup of coffee, only to spend the rest of the day racing from one responsibility to the next. Maybe the real luxury isn't having a day off at all, but allowing ourselves to enjoy a little of it without feeling obligated to accomplish something.

I'm learning that not every day needs to be productive, festive, or filled with plans....ok, I'm trying!  Sometimes, checking off the list is enough. Sometimes, staying home is the wisest choice. And sometimes, the best way to take care of ourselves is to put on our pajamas, head to bed early, and let the world carry on without us for a night.

So here's to the simple pleasures, the satisfaction of a completed to-do list, and the wisdom to know when we've done enough. There will be more parties, more holidays, and plenty more errands waiting for me tomorrow. But that quiet cup of coffee? That little moment of peace before the day began? It might just have been the best part of all.

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.” — Sydney J. Harris