on relaxation....

Still getting caught up for last week's blog, as life is crazy as ever! My daughter and I ventured on a weekend getaway, a much needed one I may add, and it was all about relaxation for me! The funny thing is, before I felt that I could relax and enjoy myself, and the weekend, I felt the need to accomplish 1,001 tasks! Crazy, I know. Art is my passion, the one thing I enjoy doing most in life, and yet I often treat it as a reward. Before I can indulge in creativity my home must be cleaned, the laundry done, dinner cooked, and homework completed, then, and only then, do I allow myself to be creative! Again, CRAZY! By the time I am done with all of my housekeeping tasks, I am often too exhausted to create! Perhaps it was my strict upbringing, but I feel like art is my reward for a hard days work. The ironic this is, art rejuvenates me, it gets my wheels turning, and it RELAXES me! I am so happy, and so at peace when I am creating. So, I ask myself, "Self...why don't you allow yourself to create FIRST, and then do your chores?" I wish I had the answer!!! Perhaps it has something to do with the art of relaxation, or the art of doing nothing. This is something I have yet to master in my life. I feel extreme amount of guilt if I sit down to watch a movie, or television show. My mind wanders to one hundred or more things that I could be doing with my time. When the fact of the matter is, WE NEED TO RELAX. We need to do "nothing" to rejuvenate ourselves. We need to use the natural talents and skills that we have been given, which enable us to relax, and in turn, enable us to be better, more productive human beings. Time was getting away from me on Friday, the day we left for our weekend adventure. I finally said to my daughter, "let's go...the dishes will be here when we return". With that, we grabbed our bags, walked out the door, and left a sink full of dishes behind!

Today's activity: Relax
By definition: to loosen; become less tense

Today I encourage you to relax. If only for 15, or 30 minutes (although I think you should relax for at least one hour!) relax! Personally define relaxation for YOU, and venture into that unknown territory. Perhaps it's reading a book, or wandering a book store. Perhaps it's tuning into your favorite cooking channel that you have not watched in months. Or perhaps, it taking a 30 minute nap. Whatever it is, do it! Even if you feel guilty, just DO IT! Trust me, after the first few minutes of indulging into relaxation, the guilt will subside, and you will be amazed at how wonderful and fresh you feel!

Think about 30 minutes in a hot bubble bath, with your favorite music playing in the background...I think I hear the water running already! Just relax......