“But it’s ok because today we have time, right, Mama?” Felix asks as I roll up his sleeves for the third damn time, trying to get it just how he likes. My impatience dissolves as I take a deep breath and hear myself say, “Yes, Bear, today we have time.”
It’s Sunday, and the twins and I are in the middle of a “day without rushing,” which means no fixed appointments that can 1. create stress about getting there on time and 2. interrupt the flow of the day.
A day without rushing doesn’t mean you don’t have a plan. Here’s what we came up with: for me to do yoga while they listened to music in their room, then breakfast, then biking to the park, playing for as long as they wanted, and then a picnic at the river.
Basically, we let the rhythm of the day find us, shifting to the next activity by listening to our bodies, not rushing based on the clock.
Can you imagine what that might feel like? Even for just a few hours?
The reason this is so powerful is because it’s in stark contrast to the way we normally structure our days. I can’t even count how many times I shout stuff like, “Come on, guys, it’s almost 8am, we gotta leave for kindergarten!” or “We need to hurry if we’re going to make it to gymnastics on time!” or, “Hop hop, get out of the shower so we can read a book and get in bed by 7pm!” Note the exclamation marks. Note the urgency.
So here’s my challenge: Can you give yourself a day without rushing? If you do, let me know how it feels in your body.
Until next Sunday,
Lizzie
Two links for you:
Want to practice slowing down together? Join my Slow Sundays course to reconnect with your biological intelligence and reclaim your attention with four weeks of Slooow Flow and Restorative Yoga.
I’ve got three more Life After 40 necklaces left. And then they are gone. So if you’re tempted, today is the day.
Oh I love this! And so needed today as last day of the school holidays and I so enjoy having them at home, without an agenda, where we can head off exploring by 8am or stay in PJs all day. Going to try and incorporate more of these days into our lives during the term time. Thank you
Just did last Friday! Spent a wonderful day with a friend meandering through two bookstores (and a chocolate store) then lunch and a slow walk through a garden/park called Bishop's Close. A mini-vacation that refreshed my head, heart and soul.