Quantcast
Channel: Pink Tambourine Club » Pink Tambourine Club » self care
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 10

Take Time to Savor the Wontons!

$
0
0

Received this card tonight at dinner… and the inside read:” Hope You Have A Well Balanced Birthday!” Before I even blew out the candles, this birthday wish came true!

Today I turned 44. Nothing special about turning 44… just another birthday. Leading up to this anniversary of my birth, I had many friends inquire as to how I would be spending my day. I hadn’t even thought about it. My girlfriends were going to take me to dinner… that was the only thing I had on the agenda.

At the last minute, my “boss” graciously gave me the day off. For those of you who do not know me, I work for myself. I made myself a grand breakfast with scrambled eggs, peppers, mushrooms, and onions.  AND, I even buttered my whole wheat toast. Well, let’s not stop there, I uncorked a bottle of cheap champagne and made myself a mimosa. (Every woman should have a bottle of cheap champagne on hand to “fancy” up her breakfast.) I sat at my dining room table and thought about the day ahead. I could do ANYTHING!

For those of you who know me, it will come as a complete surprise that I decided to CLEAN. Unless I’m having “new” guests or my Mom (and even then it’s not very thorough) I just don’t feel the desire or need to clean. Today is an absolutely gorgeous fall day, so I opened every window in my house to let some fresh air in. I started on the main floor and polished the tables, dusted, swept, vacuumed and scrubbed. With Pandora tuned to Abba, I had the perfect soundtrack to sashay from room to room.

Throughout the day, I received welcomed interruptions with birthday greetings from friends near and far. And when I wrapped up a call I was right back to my cleaning. Shockingly, I had a spring in my step and a smile on my face the entire time. I even spent an hour fixing the vacuum and a half hour clearing the slow running drains. (I concluded that if I vacuum more, I probably wouldn’t get clogged drains.) :)

What to do for lunch… it was 2:30 p.m. and lunch time had come and gone. I needed to eat, but I didn’t really have anything “celebratory” in the fridge. Earlier in the day I cleared out some old mail and found a takeout menu for “Huie’s Chow Mein.” It’s less than a block away and in the 8 years I’ve lived here, I’ve never once ventured into Huie’s. The cream cheese wontons had “Birthday Celebration” written all over them. I took a break from cleaning and got some cream cheese wontons to go.

As I sat at my dining room table indulging in this deep fried birthday treat, I was trying to figure out why on earth I was LOVING this birthday so much. I came up with a couple reasons. I truly had no expectations for my birthday. So often, we put pressure on ourselves or loved ones to plan something special for our “day.” Everything that was unfolding was a little surprise gift I was giving myself. In the last few weeks, I have been very intentional in trying to live in the moment. (See post Living in the Moment) Throughout the day, I felt the crisp breeze through the windows, smelled the burning candle, listened to the music, saw the lovely turning leafs, and tasted the savory cream cheese wontons. I was on a sensory overload. The events were far from extraordinary. The breeze blows, candles burn, music plays, the sun shines, and I fill my belly each day. The difference is I NOTICED everything. I took time to appreciate everything. I allowed myself to bask in the moment. My mind was not racing thinking about my endless “to do” list and I was not multi-tasking.

This gift of slowing down to live in the moment is by far the best gift I’ve given myself. My new year is off to a great start. I’m looking forward to slowing down and appreciating all these little moments. My 44th birthday was far from glamorous, but I will say it was absolutely glorious!

What do you do to celebrate your birthday? How do you treat yourself?


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 10

Latest Images

Trending Articles



Latest Images