Skip to main content

Space to Breathe




 Well this weekend, instead of doing something crazy, I got sick instead. While it put any and all things spontaneous out of the equation, it was actually really lovely to spend a whole three days recuperating, without having to do or accomplish anything. 

I feel calmer now than I have in a long time. I think I needed to get sick; my body and brain were both worn thin, tired to trying to do too much, trying to meet the non-existent deadlines that I place on everything that I do. 

Sometimes I forget to breathe. I forget that I need that space to just…be. To feel free, to break away from the bars I have shut myself behind and run barefoot in the sunshine. 

This weekend I gave myself time, that precious gift that we hand out like misers to ourselves. A little bit here, a little bit there, but not enough to buy anything substantial. Just enough to stop us from starving, from fading away completely. 

But this weekend I slept in for twelve hours each day, making up for weeks of early mornings alarms after late nights. I let myself lay in bed for hours after waking, reading books and snuggling under the blankets, listening to the rain outside. 

Sometimes we need to get sick, to appreciate just how important it is to take that unnecessary guilt away from our everyday lives. How vital it is to our very existence. You can’t be happy if you need to account for every second spent.

 From now on, I’m going to spend my time however I see fit; sometimes yes, I’ll be a miser, but sometimes I’ll spend every second that I have without worrying about the consequences, about the things that aren’t getting accomplished. 

Because that space to breathe, and the peace that comes with it? 

That is priceless.

Comments

Miss H said…
Aww I'm sorry you got sick but if it allowed you to recumberate then maybe it was a good thing :)
Anonymous said…
I know exactly what you mean! Taking time for yourself without having any goals set or appointments made can be so refreshing! I often do that on purpose, scheduling a day or two in to do nothing at all. But then I have the luxury of being at home a lot due to my illness (but feeling well enough to live my life like a normal person - it's a long story), so that's kinda different.
Malin said…
Yeah, I know what you mean! I'm glad you've had that little bit of time to yourself! - Do remember to take it slow sometimes, it's good for you :)
Gentri said…
I am so sorry you were sick and I hope you are feeling better! But Im so glad you were able to take time to take care of yourself! That's a neccessity! :)
Nicole said…
It is a good time to just be, sadly you had to get sick to do it but sometimes that's what happens I think. Hope your feeling better :)
keishua said…
sometimes the only way I will give myself a break is when I'm not feeling well. I think that free time is essential to life. I hate being over scheduled. I get super cranky. I need time to dream and be idle.
Anonymous said…
this is fabulous.
ellie said…
Oh..sleep is good for the body. & I have such a tough time sleeping these days. Thanks to someone...

I hope you stay on the mend. Remember the B12 tablets..my vegan friend told me I needed this.
lucy and sarah said…
I'm glad you got in some good reading time. Hope you have a good week.
Paige Hadley said…
Wow. You've got it! That is completely true, and yet, such a clear and deep understanding of the need for self-care is very rare. Good on you for realising how important YOU are.
Ashley said…
True that sister! I'm actually pretty good at giving myself space and time. I'm not one to over-work. ha. I've always realized the value of taking a breather.
i so agree with you. i felt quite ill today from doing too much and had to recuperate and sleep. we need time for ourselves xxx feel better
SJ said…
i always find that as soon as you stop after being crazy busy, your body loses the momentum and you just crash. i'm glad you enjoyed your downtime in bed :)
Brandi said…
I'm constantly pushing myself -- I usually don't take a break until I'm sick and even then, I devise little projects to work on while I'm laid up in bed. Thank you for this reminder to schedule more down time for myself. Hopefully the next time I do that it won't be because I'm sick.
nancy said…
oh I'm so sorry to hear that you're sick :( I hope you're feeling much better now! it's a good sign that you're optimistic :)

this is a lesson I'm learning myself at the moment! I hate being sick, I hate resting... I'm constantly putting pressure on myself and I wear my body out! I'm trying to listen to it a little better now :)
Anna Katrina said…
beautiful words



stop by sometime<3
http://passportglamour.blogspot.com
erleichda said…
a friend of mine said to me today : if you think its easy. its easy. if you don`t . is not. take it as it comes dear girl. you are full of life. you write so well. just go on like this : ) love from Norway
kimbirdy said…
good for you!! that's why i tell people to make self-care a priority. if you don't, your body will take over and force you to take time for yourself. it definitely knows better than that part of our brain that thinks we don't have time to be nice to ourselves. here's wishing you many more relaxing times {preferably not sick}. :)
aki! said…
I think getting sick really reminds me to take care of my body. I can try to run marathons and have careers but without my body, I don't have any of that.

That said, hope you feel better.

I don't know how much I'd enjoy working from home. I get too bored of my home sometimes.
I'm sorry to hear you got sick, but I completely understand what you mean by your body just needing to slow down and take a break. I put non-existent deadlines on everything to. And the late nights and early mornings sound all too familiar. It is certainly important to take breaks. I realize it, yet I need to really learn that concept!
Gary Gauthier said…
I can relate to everything you said and it is so true that we most appreciate our health as a thing of the past when we are not feeling so well. Thanks for commenting on the Leo Tolstoy quote at the Literary Snippets blog.
h said…
I think this is maybe why it's important for me to read outside. I can do work-related reading, but so long as I'm outside I feel like I'm on some sort of vacation. It's nice.
Victoria said…
I love taking some me-time ! It's well needed from times to times !!
Aquí said…
Getting sick is never good but I agree, its an excuse to stop everything. Even on my days off I never sit in front of the television and I certainly work from home on my days off. Being sick gives you rein to put everything down and truly relax.
Cassidy said…
I hate being sick but it always gives me an excuse to read! Which I never really have time for. Hope you feel better <3
nancy said…
thank you for your comment about the diet! I agree - I think it's lacking in nutrients, especially protein! BUT, as you said, it's a good way for me to try some new foods and experiment a little :)

thank you for your support - it's always very much appreciated!
Unknown said…
Oh, this is a gorgeous post.

Popular posts from this blog

Guest Post: Vanisha

Hey guys, here is the last guest post and I couldn't have picked someone better (if I do say so myself). I have only known Vanisha's blog for a short time but I'm already hooked. It's funny, honest and there are always beautiful photos to drool over. PLUS she lives in Canberra and does a much better job of summing up my awesome home-town than I do. Enjoy! Hello! I'm Vanisha from Vanisha's In Life...Australia  Kaylia invited me to write a guest post whilst she's on her fabulous holiday! Being asked to write a guest post almost feels like being invited into someone's home. I'm honored. Kaylia said write about "anything" so I thought I'd write about an amazing trip I recently took.  A lot of people find it odd that of all places, we decided to got to Timor Lestse. Let me preface this decision a little. It all started in front of this fire place in the middle of winter in the Kangaroo Valley. Two acquaintances sat. Trying to get war

Guest post from Deidre of Decoybetty

Here is another guest post from a fabulous blogger; this time it's Deidre from Decoybetty. This blog is one of the funniest, most honest, most inspiring blog around (with the occasional dash of delicious recipes to boot). Check out her beautiful blog at www.decoybetty.com and you'll see why she is one of my all-time favourites. Guest post: When Kaylia asked me to write a guest post, I stared at the blank screen and the only things that came to mind is how every post that Kaylia writes, I read along going “Yes! Yes! Yes!”  This girl writes (albeit way more eloquently) what I’m thinking.  But you read her blog, you know how fabulous she is.   She recently wrote about the ‘anonymity’ of travel. I’m addicted to this feeling.  I’m an expat. I was born in America and got my first taste of Australia in the young adult book “Looking for Alibrandi” where a teenager skips school to hang out with a boy which is basically all the things I am not. I’d never skip school and I didn’t r

Guest Post: Brandi of ´Not Your Average Ordinary´

This guest post is quite exciting for me, as Brandi was actually the reason I first started my blog. She was one of my first followers and has been such an inspiration throughout this whole process. On top of that she is the sweetest person ever and such a beautiful woman inside and out. Without further ado, here she is: Ritual I was so flattered when Kaylia asked me to guest post for her. You see, she's one of my favorite sources of inspiration and honesty on the great big blogosphere. I was sipping tea, trying to decide what to write and feeling more unsure of myself than ever. It's been a bit like that lately in my world. When moments like those overwhelm me, I stop what I'm doing and brew a pot of tea. The first cup is reflection, the second poured becomes evaluation, the remaining cups devoted to action. It's one of the best things I do for myself all day, the little ritual. There’s something wonderful about daily rituals – those little times during the