Funday, It Is A Date

 Last Saturday I had a complete day off.  My grandson who I usually take to my house was busy.  The online meeting I often attend on Saturday mornings wasn't meeting that Saturday. I wasn't taking my car anywhere to have anything done.  I had a little grocery shopping and a prescription to order.  There were things I could do, but not things I had to do.

I decided that I needed to plan something fun.  Not going to the grocery store fun, but fun.  I decided to go to lunch at a deli that I hadn't been to since long before the pandemic started.  It is not at all close to my house, so I just don't think of it.  I went to the deli and since it is sort of near to Trader Joe's I went there too.  Trader Joe's is off my usual radar as well.  I only go there once or twice a year.

It was fun lunching at the deli.  It might have been more fun with a friend, but it was fun none the less.  I got a chocolate truffle.  At Trader Joe's I got the bag of mini avocadoes and some odds and ends of things I had never tasted before.  And the olive oil, I love the olive oil.  All in all I rate the day a success.

Even before the pandemic I was not very good at planning recreation.  I tend to have a lot to do that never gets finished and so I think that I will do that stuff.  But, I end up tired and watching television at the end of the day.  I never feel refreshed.  I am trying to remember that I need to keep myself in mind.  I need to remember that everything will never be finished until I am dead.  There is no sense in rushing that.  I need to enjoy the dance, enjoy the journey.

Vacation Planning

 I read or heard something in passing a couple of weeks ago that has made an impression on me.  At the time I heard or read it I thought it was interesting, but over time, pondering the idea, it has made an impact.  I just don't remember the source.  But, it was an interesting idea regardless and I am trying to apply it to my life these days.

The idea is--plan every day like you are on vacation. I know, yawn, snooze, but think about it.  If you are like me you don't arrive at a destination and go--what shall I do today?  You may have the day scheduled down to the minute, or you may be like me and have a general idea of the things you want to do and some extras or alternates in case something doesn't work out or you finish early and need something else.

Admittedly, in my working life, I had my days planned because their were so many things I needed to do.  Often I had too much to do and ended up late in the evening trying to get things ready for the next day.  This worked okay then because I was younger and had a lot more energy.  I am still essentially working a fulltime job in childcare, but I look forward to retiring soon.  But, I do have days off.

Often times I don't get the things done that I wanted to in the time I have off.  Genius, I need to plan my days.  And in those planned days, I need to plan for some "vacation" things that I have always been meaning to do.  I haven't been to Nathaniel Boone's home in 30 years.  I have sometimes thought about taking visitors there, but since I haven't been there in so long, I am not sure what it is like these days.  I would like to check it out.  It will never happen unless I plan to do it.

So far, I haven't been the most successful in putting this idea into practice, but I am working on it.  I know that I will need that kind of structure when I give up the babysitting and have time on my hands.  There is a scripture that goes something like---teach me to number my days aright. S, Lord, teach me to number my days and not fritter them away.