So there I was last night, rushing home, immediately changing out of my office clothes and readying for supper. I found myself sighing and pushing through the meal’s preparation. I found myself annoyed, distressed and rushed.
And then I stopped it.
I slowed down.
I turned on some music, poured myself a drink, and took my time.
I sauteed, I stirred, I tasted & I served.
The guys meandered in and out of the kitchen, unaware of the chaos reigning the previous moments.
We enjoyed our meal, cleaned up and everyone dispersed as is the norm. I turned towards the rest of my evening and felt it creeping in again .. the rush of laundry to be done-Christmas gifts to be wrapped – tidying up calling out to me and I saw it: the shoulds were back … in full force.
And then I stopped it.
I turned on a light, scooted it closer to my reading chair, poured a glass of ice water and settled in with my book. Turning off the TV, the only sounds left were mine and the snores from old dog. And it was just what I needed.
* * *
“There’s a moment in everyone’s life when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you better learn to know the sound of it. Otherwise you’ll never understand what it’s saying.” ~ Sarah Dessen
When’s the last time you heeded the whispers of your heart?
Frankie listens to his heart when it says: Rest up!
MJ, I applaud you. I *know* that is not easy to do, I am not very good at even recognizing it till it’s often too late. Thank you so much for writing this today. I will think back on it when I start feeling bombarded by the “should’s” and “stop it”. ~d.
It is not easy to do .. and believe you me, I am a late learner of this. Honestly, it happened LAST night. Seriously. I caught myself in a mad dash and I felt like I was watching a cartoon scene .. then a little voice (my own) said .. what. are. you. doing?
Kick the shoulds to the curb .. it’s very freeing!
MJ
Those same chaotic feelings plague me ALL OF THE TIME. It rarely occurs to me to take control and fend them off. Thanks for sharing how you manage them. Next time I start to feel overwhelmed that way, I’ll give your methods a try.
.. It is not a coincidence that it’s women who have commented here; why do we take on all we do? I’ll answer that … we feel obligated to. I noticed no one else rushing around in a mad panic .. only me. That was my 1st clue
Cheers! MJ
Was it Rod McKuen who said “Listen to the warm?”
It was .. and he was right
MJ
Bravo, MJ! I feel such a wonderful sense of accomplishment, when I push through the ‘shoulds’ and let myself sink into the quiet. Fantastic post!
you and me both, LD. It just doesn’t happen as often as I’d like. I aim to change that
MJ
Good for you!
baby steps
MJ
I have a hard time doing this too…giving myself permission to slow down, or even harder, leave things on my list UNDONE! Because if I don’t get things done, life as I know it will just stop! Right?!
Thanks for the reminder to slow down! ~ Sheila
… most of us do it and for me, it gets worse at this time of the year.
Leaving things undone? UNHEARD of (smile)
Cheers! MJ
PERFECTLY expressed – I can absolutely relate and love that you shared the decisions that you made along the way, during a ‘typical’ evening that changed how you lived in it! I have banished the word should from my spoken vocabulary….and chase it from the tapes that run in my head. It still finds its way in, but at least I recognized it for what it is now, and turn it into could….cause then the choice is mine…and I can be still and listen to my heart. Beautiful quote as well!
ooh I like that .. turn should into could
I’m using that, Adrienne. Thank you!! 
You always have such good advice for us. And I, too, love the quote! Now to remember it!
… well I figure if I catch myself doing it, chances are some of you have, too. And I was right
I love that quote … MJ
Good for you. I never did that until I retired. The worst time was Sunday afternoon/evening when I would frantically try to get a million things done before the work week started again. No more. Wish I had learned that earlier.
Oooh I hear you on that. I have learned to put Sunday’s work in Saturday’s basket.
Like you, wish I’d learned it earlier though … cheers! MJ
The quiet in our hearts and minds, a place often forgotten. Beautiful post MJ.
Good for you! It’s hard sometimes when you feel like you’re just rushing through one thing to get to another. I do that a lot. Last night was a good one. I told my husband to pick up a pizza (no cooking). We ate dinner and then I watched TV for the first time in a while. It was nice to recharge.
…It’s a habit I am trying to break because I want to enjoy this holiday time not race through it. Good on you, Leah!!
MJ
The idea of just being in the moment is so hard. Once you are able to stop and just stir the veggies, or drink your water or even sit and read, life just seems to fall into place. Thank you for sharing, and hope you have many more “moments” of being in the next few weeks.
Bryan
Thank you, Bryan. You’re right .. it’s hard to “get there,” but once we do … ahhh. Cheers! MJ