Happy February! This week’s post comes heavily caffeinated, as I am writing after my kids and I pulled an “all nighter.”
First thing you should know, we purposefully planned this night, thus prepared accordingly with a checklist of activities, such as building gingerbread houses I found on clearance and night breakfast we all made together at 3 am.
Second thing to know, I did NOT make it a full night. There is something about knowing I won’t sleep any time soon that made me extra tired throughout Friday, or I just need my beauty rest. Either way, I took an hour nap around 1:15 am then slept a few hours around 5 am, waking up to meet a friend for lunch, which was planned longer than the all nighter.
Finally, it was super fun! Other than my lunch, our schedules are free from timely obligations, allowing for naps whenever the urge rose to that level; while also having two more sleeps through the weekend, which is hopefully enough opportunity to get our sleep back on track.
Why would we do this? I am crazy??!?! Maybe so, okay probably so! In reality, though, I tend to stay up late when I am writing, because for some reason, my brain is most creative starting around 9 or 10 pm. Therefore, the weekend before, I was easily up past one in the morning writing, at which point, I told my kids it was time for bed (don’t judge, they are 11 and 13 and can go to bed if they want).
While tucking them in about a half hour later, they suggested the all nighter idea, actually wanting to do it that night. The juxtaposition of how they viewed an all nighter as fun, while dredging up nights of college papers, work projects, or fussy babies fascinated me. It was this little thing, in the grand scheme of life, towards which they brought a fresh awareness that I could hardly argue against.
Ultimately, we agreed for this weekend for several reasons, which also created the unforeseen consequence building anticipation.
All this is happening when I am looking through the budget to see what kind of vacation we can take this year, wondering if a big trip is worthwhile. It’s reminiscent of the toddler who cares little about the expensive Christmas present, instead spending hours playing with the box it came in. Or perhaps the plane ride to a destination being more memorable than the weeklong trip to the luxury family resort.
Basically, it’s the childlike awareness of the little things that we should probably take notice of, because it’s happening regardless.
For a moment, think back to this past week, what was the best thing that happened to you? Is there a memory you will hold longer than the situation would likely dictate?
.For me, there was a memorable day with a field trip I helped with; however, the unexpected little thing was my realization about how fun working out with friends from work has become. It’s becoming a thing I look forward to, not simply for the workout, but the social aspect. I don’t want to miss a week!
Was there something about this past week you would want to happen again?
When it was warmer, I was walking every morning before work. I enjoy getting steps while listening to books; however, there was so much more, when I took notice of the little things, such as a beautiful sunrise, or seeing the other walkers week after week.
The high a particularly remarkable sunrise generated rode me through the morning, well into my work day. Additionally, several times I have run into other walkers at school events or simply around, when we ask each other “don’t you walk around Franklin Park in the mornings.” That’s so fun to me!
Admission time, I’ve become lazy with my walks. While I can arguably justify the weather as a deterrent, I cannot fully blame the cold, because there are times I could have gone. It’s not any more obvious than now, as I have returned from a walk, feeling great that I did it, while the temperature is in the 30s albeit sunny.
I plan to use this opportunity as a reminder to get back into my walk routine I thoroughly enjoyed (later today and again tomorrow morning); however, beyond that, I will make a commitment to myself to find joy in the little things I come across that could unfortunately go unnoticed.
.One ritual I started last summer with my kids was an evening walk during which we each described one thing we were grateful for from that day. Though I never put formal guidelines around our responses, I usually tried to limit myself to a little thing from that day.
Everyday, I am grateful for who I am, how I look, or how I go about the world as Hazel, but I didn’t want that to be the focus at that moment. Instead, I focused at least some reflection on the little things that made that particular day special, such as chance conversation with a neighbor, fortuitous timing at the grocery store, or seeing a memorable sunrise, sunset, or flowers in a garden.
These little things happen everyday, so it’s up to us whether or not we designate part of our mental energy for them!
My challenge to you is to take time each day to think about these little things, then see how your mood is! I will be doing this, while perhaps taking notes for a future post!
Hopefully this post has brought you some joy!! Have an amazing week everyone!!