I’ve been on vacation this week with my girls, and Monday was Patriots Day. For those who don’t live in Massachusetts, it’s the day they run the Boston Marathon. I like running but I would never dream of running a marathon. I’m not much for competitive running, or running for long distances. I like running a few miles at a time, slowly, at my own pace. The thought of running for longer than that leaves me winded.
At any rate, I tend to turn on the television to watch the race and hear about the runners in the lead as I make breakfast and sip my coffee. I was sitting at the table and something the newscasters said made me think.
“Whose day is it today?”
They were talking about who was going to win, as it could have been any of several people that were in the lead pack of men. But something struck me about this sentence and I started to think about it in terms of life in general.
And I started to write: Today is my day. I may not be running a marathon, but today I will be successful at doing things I want to do. I will clean that kitchen. I will read that book. I will make dinner and the girls will love it. I will own this day like nobody else.
And you know what? I did. I conquered Monday. I folded Kelsey’s clothes and helped her organize her wardrobe. I did massive amounts of laundry. I cooked a turkey with stuffing that had been in the freezer since Thanksgiving. It was a good day.
And then Tuesday I did a bit more of the same. Each day of this vacation I declared that it would be my day, and I did the things I keep putting off because there is never time to do them. I cleaned the dining room and my knitting nook. I can now sit in there and read and be in a comfy spot for hours. I cleared out all the old papers cluttering up the entire first floor. So many papers. And I moved some furniture around, cause I always somehow want to move furniture around.
I am very sore now, but it was all worth it. And now, I will have a few days to chill out before the end of vacation.
All this is to say that we often sail through life without thinking about things, just going about our days with the same routine. Our lives become so cluttered that it’s too exhausting to do anything but let it pile up. I’m not sure if any of us really set out to own the day, to conquer it, to fully embrace the time we have and make the most of it. I know I don’t normally think like that. By the time I get home from work, time has slipped by and there isn’t much left for the things I really want to do. But sometimes, I find time to read a few pages in a good book, or knit a few rows of something on needles, or write some words in a notebook. If I can make a good dinner I feel quite accomplished.
Especially as a single mom, I find time is precious. It’s hard to get a moment to yourself. But it’s so important to be quiet for a while, with a cup of tea or glass of wine, and relax. Your brain needs a chance to recharge, to not have to think about anything.
It’s often in these quiet moments that the best ideas come to you. Or you figure something out that’s been troubling you for a while. When you stop to listen to who you are and really listen to your own mind and body, you’ll be surprised at the things you uncover about yourself.
Tomorrow I want you to do one thing. Own your day. Be courageous. Be kind. Be brave. And be scared and anxious too. Be all that you are, in only the way that you can be. Stand up for things. Be truthful. But ultimately, be you.
Because in the end, that’s all we have. And it’s the best feeling, knowing you’ve been true to who you are.