Life With An Empty Plate
It’s 10:46 on a Monday morning. For better context, it is Memorial Day. But nonetheless, it is 10:46, and I am just waking up. This is unheard of in my world. I am usually up and moving around by 5:00 am. The other thing that is odd about this day is this unsettling feeling I have. This is the first time in over six months that I have nothing to do. No meetings, no projects, no kid activities, nothing. My plate is empty.
I recently attended a conference where one of the presenters spoke on the plate that women carry and how full it can get. Sometimes we are the reason our plates get full. In my case, I am partially the reason. This past year has been a lot, and I kept adding on to it. There were many months where I said if I could just make it to this day or that day, I will be able to breathe. That day would come and there I was back at the buffet adding something else to my plate.
Cue Taylor Swift, I am the problem. I can admit it.
So here we are, the end of May. School is over. My major volunteer position is over. Extracurricular activities are done. Work has slowed down. So now what? I know that I should be basking in this moment, but it gives me an uneasy feeling.
Now that my plate is empty, I have absolutely no idea what to do with all of this extra time? I have a few ideas…
Before kids, I loved to read. But that hobby slowly fell to the wayside. There are several books that I have been hearing about that I want to check out. So, my summer will consist of seeing if Colleen Hoover lives up to the hype. I recently signed up my kids for the Book It Program and the reading program at the Lafayette Parish Library, so it will be fun for us to read as a family and keep them motivated.
This year I have decided to learn how to bake bread. I will use some of my free time to continue my pursuit of this goal. I have mastered corn bread and I am working on biscuits. I am sure my family will enjoy taste testing my attempts.
This time will also be used to spend time with my family. We have made a summer bucket list of local places we want to visit this summer. The hubby and I also have a date night bucket list of local restaurants we want to try.
More than anything, I will use this time to slow down and relax.
Enjoy slow mornings and slower evenings. I will focus on myself and revaluate the goals I set at the beginning of the year. While this is an odd time in my world, I know August will be here in the blink of an eye and my plate will fill up again. So, I will learn to relax and enjoy the moment. Here’s to an empty plate!
