By Marie Bombeck Last week I ran away. I left the to-do list and my planner on the desk and dirty laundry in the hamper. I dropped all my responsibilities and fled the state. OK, before you think I have lost my mind, let me clarify. My husband and I went on a trip to Kansas City for five wonderful days. My husband was going to attend a ceramics convention for school. I decided to tag along. We both needed a vacation and it seemed like a perfect opportunity. The trip was truly a breath of fresh air. The change in landscape was refreshing. The fog of our daily responsibilities lifted. This trip was the most time my husband and I have been able to spend together in about a month. We walked around Kansas City looking at ceramics and art exhibits until our feet and legs felt like they were going to fall off. Then we would retreat back to the hotel to the hot tub. We went to a concert and ate at so many great restaurants. We walked through art museums. I got to stare in awe at a beautiful Van Gogh painting. In five short days, we absorbed so much art. We were stuffed to the brim with inspiration and too much good food. On our way home, we made a stop in Lawrence, Kansas where there was two of the most quintessential book stores I have ever stepped into, complete with a cat to pet while making your selection. A local told us to stop by this local bakery and we split the most delicious blueberry cream cheese pastry. But after five fun-filled, care-free days, it was time to return back to work and responsibilities. But I came home renewed and with a refreshed perspective. Sometimes, we all just need to run away. And I highly recommend it. Trips can’t always happen, but find a way to escape. Sit down and get lost in a good book or a good conversation with a friend. Find a way to strip yourself from the cloud of responsibilities that are always floating around your head. Find a way to ease your soul. But as I write this, I admit that my suitcase is sitting open ready to be packed. I am getting ready to run away again. Just for the weekend. I am running away to Grandma’s house for a perfect Easter weekend full of food and family. Kansas City skyline
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By Marie Bombeck
Today I got to do something I have wanted to do for at least two weeks now, if not more. What was that? Well, you are reading it. Every time I have sat down to write, there seemed to be something more important to take my attention, such as unpacking and settling into the new apartment, commitments taking me out of town or some other excuse. The list could just go on and on. But today I finally carved out the time to do sit down in my new messy office, ignored the teetering stacks of boxes, and just wrote. I used to have too much time on my hands, beginning of January and through February. But March started and life caught me off guard. Time seems to be spread too thin and I never have enough to go around. So the tables have turned. I can’t seem to find the time to do the things I want to do. It was like mid-sentence of “I’m so bor--” life punched me in the gut and made my head spin in a busy whirl. There has been a string of sleepless nights and early mornings. There is mountain of dirty laundry and a pile of dishes in the sink. When it’s time to eat, there is nothing to eat in the fridge because I haven’t gone grocery shopping for weeks. I have been so busy that I have not had the chance to do things that I enjoy doing. And these are the days I don’t feel like myself. How do you not lose yourself in all that stuff to do? How do you make time to do the things you love that make you feel like you? When your eyes are too tired after work to read that book on your night stand that is collecting dust? Or you know you should ride your bike or go for a walk, but that seems like it would take up too much energy. Whatever it is that you have the desire to do, you don’t seem to be able to find the time. I have been doing some soul searching lately to try to find the answer to this complex question and I am still working on it. So this is part one of two posts where I am calling on all of you. I am quite certain that this may be a common problem that threads many of us together. When is the time you carve out for just you? How have you learned to juggle your responsibilities along with the things that you want to do? Do some soul searching this week. Mull it over. And comment below. Let’s help each other find the time to be ourselves. |
Marie BombeckSharing thoughts and stories that we all probably have had. Archives
September 2018
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