Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Ode to Joy
After a particularly long, exhausting day last week, my husband told me, 'You should do something really nice for yourself on your day off.' He was right. I was tired and grumpy and fed up with everything and nothing. I needed a break. Having Chris encourage me on such an endeavor made it all the better. But what should I do? What could I do for myself that would make me feel better?
First thought: Yay! iPhone! But we're on a bit of a budget right now. And I wouldn't feel right getting a cool new toy so close to Chris' birthday.
Second thought: I'll get a great new hair cut! But again with the budget thing. Besides, I don't like having to bathe or get dressed on my days off.
Third thought: "......" Hrm. What goes there? What brings joy to my life and costs little to nothing? I've a got a free day, all to myself, to do anything I please. What will I fill this day with?
The answer? Order. I shall fill it with order. There are many things that fill my life with joy, but on a day that I shall spend alone, puttering around the house, I love to tidy. Of course it isn't the tidying itself that brings the joy. It's the sense of accomplishment and the vast emptiness of a bare dining room table and a desk with work space on it. I've been chipping away at getting rid of crap in the craft room and finding places for everything in there. But I think today's focus needs to be on rooms that I see every day. The office, the kitchen, the dining room turned sewing area. Once things are orderly, then I can sit comfortably at my desk and pay the bills (Another thing that brings joy because it tidies up the accounts!), or do some sewing without having to work around all of the crap on the cutting table.
Oh, and it definitely helps that I'll be doing this tidying while drinking champagne and eating pizza and taking knitting breaks! So what brings you joy? What do you do on your days off?
First thought: Yay! iPhone! But we're on a bit of a budget right now. And I wouldn't feel right getting a cool new toy so close to Chris' birthday.
Second thought: I'll get a great new hair cut! But again with the budget thing. Besides, I don't like having to bathe or get dressed on my days off.
Third thought: "......" Hrm. What goes there? What brings joy to my life and costs little to nothing? I've a got a free day, all to myself, to do anything I please. What will I fill this day with?
The answer? Order. I shall fill it with order. There are many things that fill my life with joy, but on a day that I shall spend alone, puttering around the house, I love to tidy. Of course it isn't the tidying itself that brings the joy. It's the sense of accomplishment and the vast emptiness of a bare dining room table and a desk with work space on it. I've been chipping away at getting rid of crap in the craft room and finding places for everything in there. But I think today's focus needs to be on rooms that I see every day. The office, the kitchen, the dining room turned sewing area. Once things are orderly, then I can sit comfortably at my desk and pay the bills (Another thing that brings joy because it tidies up the accounts!), or do some sewing without having to work around all of the crap on the cutting table.
Oh, and it definitely helps that I'll be doing this tidying while drinking champagne and eating pizza and taking knitting breaks! So what brings you joy? What do you do on your days off?
Labels: Lists and Goals
idyllicchick, 8:50 AM
4 Comments:
Corrina, at Jul 22, 2008 12:31:00 PM
Usually I rock back and forth, chew on my hand, and chant "my only day off, my only day off" and drool a lot.
HAHAHAHAHAH, kidding. Totally had you there, didn't I?!
Usually I alternate; one Tuesday I will get. shit. done; the next Tuesday I will not get out of my jammies, and sit and watch TV all day. The down side of that is that one Tuesday I never get to relax and the other Tuesday I feel guilty for wasting a day.
Now with G. working some Mondays and giving us two days off every now and then...? I've gotten so much done in the last 36 hours, and yet relaxed as well. I made a list yesterday of 27 things to get done; I've gotten 17 of them accomplished... and five of the ten remaining things aren't really all that necessary.
Next up? Pouring a lime vodka and diet Sprite, meeting the couch and my knitting, and watching a Judi Dench film. After that I might fold some laundry. And scan in some more old family photos.
HAHAHAHAHAH, kidding. Totally had you there, didn't I?!
Usually I alternate; one Tuesday I will get. shit. done; the next Tuesday I will not get out of my jammies, and sit and watch TV all day. The down side of that is that one Tuesday I never get to relax and the other Tuesday I feel guilty for wasting a day.
Now with G. working some Mondays and giving us two days off every now and then...? I've gotten so much done in the last 36 hours, and yet relaxed as well. I made a list yesterday of 27 things to get done; I've gotten 17 of them accomplished... and five of the ten remaining things aren't really all that necessary.
Next up? Pouring a lime vodka and diet Sprite, meeting the couch and my knitting, and watching a Judi Dench film. After that I might fold some laundry. And scan in some more old family photos.
If you got extra tidy and/or order you can bring it my way. I feel like I should be building a fort with all the boxes strewn around my house. ;-)
Joy? A day of quiet. No one expecting me to fetch things. No one talking at me, expecting some sort of response. No one going on and on and on about things I could care less about.
Usually my days (or, parts of days) off consist of video games, reading and knitting. Not necessarily in that order. Generally, I get my errands done on my work days, which frees up much needed pj days. :D
Hope your day off was made of shiny!
Usually my days (or, parts of days) off consist of video games, reading and knitting. Not necessarily in that order. Generally, I get my errands done on my work days, which frees up much needed pj days. :D
Hope your day off was made of shiny!
Wait. I'm broke. And the gas to get you here would broker me.
It was a good plan for 2 seconds.