Wednesday, May 17, 2017

It's Okay To Be Happy With A Simple Life


Lisa took a couple of vacation days next week. Combined with the weekend, and having Memorial Day off, she'll have 5 days off total. Originally, this time was set aside to do our Big Painting Project...the one we had planned on doing back in April, but Lisa couldn't get the time off. However. Once again. We're postponing the Big Painting Project until October.

The weather is a contributing factor in our decision. You've got fans blowing in. Fans blowing out. Based on the predicted forecast, there's going to be rain. Humidity.  You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that painting when it's humid or raining is never a good idea.

Weather predictions for the 25th and 26th was just the tip of the iceberg when making the decision to postpone our Big Painting Project for the second time.

The stuff beneath the surface consisted of lots of stuff, but it all landed in the same bucket.

We. Need. A. Break.

From almost everything.

It's been a long time since Lisa and I had more than the weekend to do what we wanted, when we wanted, and with who we wanted.

We don't take vacations away from our home.

We don't go on weekend getaways.

We don't take overnight trips.

That's been the case since 2012.

Our family has gotten bigger.

We've expanded Bodacious Biscuit Love.

There's something coming up on the work front that may or may not alter our schedules a bit.

I can't say too much beyond that, but I'll fill you in when all is said and done. 

The list goes on.

At that point, we decided to postpone the Big Painting Project and free up our days and embrace spontaneity. To open the door to people in our tribe who have become family. To enjoy drinks, food, backyard fires, laughs, conversation, yard sales, silly moments, lots of extra time with the kids, making the outside look beautiful, and to enjoy life in a way that we haven't had much time for in well over a year.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Yesterday, I explained all of this to an acquaintance of mine. His response was almost immediate.

"Five days off? Holy shit. Do something exciting. Spend some money. Hire someone to watch your 'dogs." Eat at an expensive restaurant. Stay at a pricey hotel overnight. Live it up..."

While he ranted, I sat at my desk rolling my eyes more times than I should have.

And, quite possibly, extending my middle finger.

I know he meant well, but...

What's wrong with getting excited about 5 days of no definite plans. Simplicity. Slowing down for a few days. Calm. Laughing until we choke on smoke around the pit fire at night. Sipping wine. Licking our fingers after making S'mores.

The world is loud. Noisy. Demanding. Constantly reminding me that we should hustle more, seek out bigger and better, do more, say "yes" to this and that, spread ourselves too thin, leave a footprint, speak loud and bold, and strive for whatever is in reach.

Or, at the very least, paint our walls because the original paint is cheap, matte, and has seen better days. 

What if I want to put these days aside to exhale. Do what we want. When we want. With who we want. Eating the foods we want. Crawling on the floor as much as we want with the kids. Spoiling our kids. Playing endless games of fetch and tug.

What if we have no desire to escape the life we love so much.

What if we don't dine out at a fancy restaurant.

What if we embark on something that others consider exciting.

Is that so bad? Frowned upon?

Since when is it not okay to get excited about outdoor projects, DIY projects, getting caught up on housework, exhaling, doing things in our own time, and having no plans?

Sure, we probably won't have any jaw dropping stories to tell at the end of those 5 days, quite honestly, we don't care.

We'll be making memories.


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