Take An Actual Day Off Without Running for Cover

 

You’ve heard this before..

No is a complete sentence.

 

But do you know what’s more important than a verbal, “no”? The spirit behind it.

 

🅇 Why do we feel we must justify leaving an opening in our schedule if there’s nothing “official” to take its place?

🅇 Where did we get the idea that the only reason we can leave space for ourselves and our families is if we have something structured or obligatory in that particular time slot? 

[Tweet “Where did we get the idea that the only reason we can leave space for ourselves and our families is if we have something structured or obligatory in that particular time slot?”]

☑️ Have you ever said “no” * full stop*? And then DUCKED AND COVERED YOURSELF? Yeah. Me, too.

 

A Day Without the Usual Obligations

 

As I type this, my family and I have a day off. Traditional holidays in our household aren’t always a day off from jobs. This one happens to be. AND it’s attached to a Saturday and Sunday, making it a glorious three-day weekend. I HEART three-day weekends. (Of course, we talk about the meaning behind the meaningful holidays. Settle down.) 

The children don’t have school.

The pilot doesn’t have a flight. 

>>> HOWEVER…we had virtual music lessons scheduled. Because this is our normal day for music lessons. 

I canceled those. No, there’s nothing in particular in those timeslots. EXCEPT FOR US. This is the point.

Now, I love our teacher and in no way wish to disrespect her time, so I kind of did give an explanation. It felt like the right and kind thing to do instead of simply saying, “We’re not going to do lessons tomorrow.” AND we made the decision yesterday, so I let her know yesterday, so she isn’t getting a last-minute notice and we’re not leaving her hanging. So, this kind of explanation is in my opinion, the exception to the no-explanation-needed rule.

It’s VERY HARD FOR ME TO CANCEL THE REGULAR. Is it hard for you?

BUT NOW *DRUMROLL*… have open plans without obligation. We are not beholden to the usual schedule.

• We can make plans to go to a park, chill, read, binge-watch comedy, or catch up on the random uncrossed-off tasks and toss lonely socks into the washing machine.
• We can extend the family quiet time.
• I can take a shower that lasts more than five minutes.
• My middle child and I can FINALLY FINISH the last stave of A Christmas Carol. The brothers can have an extra-long scuffle and take all the time in the world getting out of bed.
• They can gaze at the NFL playoff bracket.
• We don’t have to hurry or look at our watches or holler about BEING READY FOR YOUR LESSON ONE NANOSECOND AFTER YOUR BROTHER IS DONE WITH HIS.

 

Take Your Day (Whenever that Is), Your Hour, Your…Time

We’ve made it a true day off. And we’re not gonna run for cover just because nothing is taking the timeslot on our calendar. (I know, I know. It’s not rocket surgery. But it took me a really long time to get here. I hope it takes you less.)