Time Out

Today was the first day in weeks that I had NO agenda for lunch. No lunch meetings, no errands to run, no lunch date with a friend. I had even failed to grab my gym bag, leaving it at home by the door, which meant no trip to the gym. 

I've gotten used to having my days maxed out from the moment I wake up, to the minute my eyelids finally drop, without effort, over my tired brown eyes. I almost didn't know what to do with myself. I had mentally checked off every lunch option from my list. 

Now what? Where would I go and was I sure there wasn't anything the kids needed that I had failed to pick up that they would ask me about the minute I walked in the door?

What happened next was something I should have done a long time ago. I forced myself to take a time out. What? Adults don't take time outs! We make our kids sit and think about what they've done more times than we need to count. But, when was the last time we put ourselves in time out?

I decided to put my smart phone down, leave my keys at my desk, and walk. I was walking to Subway and no one or no thing would stop me. I felt somewhat vulnerable, but the feeling was freeing.  

While walking, I had to keep my eyes up. Was it partly for fear of tripping and rolling down the sidewalk, maybe. But mostly because I had made a conscience decision to just walk and push all distractions aside. It's amazing what we see and notice when we simply look up!

I could have jumped in my car, driven the half mile it took me to walk. Ordered. Driven the half mile back. Rushed back to my desk to eat, to sit there, and probably spend my last few minutes browsing through my social media.

But I didn't. I walked.

Was I in skinny jeans in July? Yes. Was it hot? Yes. Was it worth it? YES!

I wasn't rushing. I wasn't running my to do list over and over in my head. I wasn't hurrying to get back to nail the perfect parking spot (the problem is real, friends). I was looking UP, not DOWN at a screen. I was feeling the warm breeze, hearing the passing cars, and noticing just how many men there are with beards in this town (truth)! I loved it! 

I spent the last part of my break sitting outside, eating my lunch, and being still. It was awesome! As I sat there I couldn't remember the last time I allowed myself to be still.

Today I'm vowing to put myself in time out more often. You with me?