“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.”
Lily Tomlin

Sometimes on Sunday I’m fried.  I’m often frustrated because I had one million things I wanted to do around the house and another million hours of work and I also wanted to relax!  Reality often hits on Sunday night when I see all that I didn’t get done.

Last night as I was getting a bit frantic about all that I still needed to do, my son suggest I sit down and watch a little golf.  His look was so sweet – as if he realized that there was no way in h*** I was going to get everything done and maybe everyone would be happier if I just relaxed – so I did.  And it was the perfect remedy.

We set our expectations too high.  We use the weekends to be productive instead of relaxing.  We are a total go, go, go society … until we go right in the box and it’s done.  A friend mentioned yesterday that his partner gets frustrated when she’s working around the house and he’s reading.  Who is right?  Well, it depends, of course.  But I almost never take the time to sit and read until I’m in bed (where I promptly fall asleep in 15 seconds — not too much reading’s getting done there!).

One thing I know about myself: when I’m in the present moment, I feel good and relaxed.  Optimistic.  I’m more focused and life seems more fun.  When I’m just thinking about the next thing to get done – I feel stressed out.

So, today – take a moment or two to just stop.  Listen to what’s happening around you.  Make a list of the Must Get Done stuff for next weekend and then cut it in half.  Enjoy the laughter of someone close to you.  I think I need my mantra to be – “There’s nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow other than being present.”

“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going to fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.”

Eddie Cantor

Have a great day!