I believe there are periods in life when simply taking care of the necessities are about as much as you can manage. I have a compulsive need for order, so maintaining my home, my work life and my self are never options for laziness. Creative pursuits, household projects, entertaining, inventive activities are all things that take a back seat. These past months life have been somewhat uncertain and my solution has been escape.
In my new place of employment I am fortunate to work a four-day work week, leaving me with three full days to accomplish household tasks and to do as I please. With children grown and (thank God) a completely self-sufficient spouse, I've been spending my spare time buried in a book and the occasional movie.
Books are for me the greatest stress reducer of all. No matter what has caused you grief or stress during the course of a day, I can rely on the written page to take me to another world. In a lesser way, a good movie can do the same. And, while, there have been flashes of disgust for not accomplishing much beyond the necessary, I do believe there are seasons for accomplishment and seasons for maintenance. I am maintaining.
The problem with those of us who are hard-wired towards accomplishment, is that these periods of lassitude always bring about a nagging voice in your head saying, "Do something- paint the bathroom, invite some friends over, plan a trip, cook a new dish, get your body in shape, etc. etc. etc..." When that happens, I race to the library for 10 more books and burrow even deeper.
So, while most days I find myself spending much of my spare time feet up, buried in a book, I contemplate that burst of energy that is sure to come. History tells me so.
Until then, I read... and read and read and read.
VSL
