my, myself, and I

Today I remembered how much I love good quality time with just myself and my thoughts. I've always been someone who has enjoyed "me" time. I'm not saying that I'm comfortable enough to go to a movie alone, but I do love to lunch alone, and I honestly shop much better when I am on my own as well. I had a doctor's appointment this morning and decided that instead of taking just the morning off and rushing back to work for lunch, planning, and one period to teach, that I would take the afternoon as a mental health day. Healthy, it has been!

I stopped for some quality eats at Panera and just soaked in the meal and let my mind wander. This is where it wandered to:

~Last night I practiced yoga at a new studio in Bel Air. Tom, the instructor, guided us through some hip openers. Someone once told me that we hold our tensions, stresses, and fears in our hips. This certainly explains why they are often so tight. It is a relief when breath can bring relief to those areas. Perhaps metaphorically as well as physically, I mean. Kind of a nice way of looking at stress right? Oh this is just a tight muscle, I just need to breathe deeply and things will loosen up and I'll be open to bigger and better poses/life experiences. Anyway, as we made our way into half pigeon, I found myself excited to get back into it and as crazy as it sounds, actually hoped we'd be there for awhile. You have no idea how much thinking I do while not thinking during that pose. Phew.

Of course, during this delicious meal of broccoli cheddar soup and a Mediterranean veggie sandwich, I spend time people watching and eavesdropping. I can be such a nosy person. I know there are lots of fellow people watchers out there who can agree with me. I often have fun imagining lives for people I see in random places. I can create a whole fantastical world for someone--oh see that lady over there with her laptop and her thai chopped chicken salad? She's some fancy shmancy lawyer working on a huge case. That guy drinking his coffee in his way-too-short running shorts and grey hoodie? He's planning his next big hiking trip. Anyway, I'm sure you see how ridiculous this is. Weird, maybe. Entertaining, definitely.

Now here I am, enjoying a quiet afternoon watching daytime TV. I have my two kittens snuggled up next to/on top of me, and I am grading some papers. I accidentally just checked my work email--25 new messages since yesterday evening. I think I'll put those on hold until tomorrow. There is always something more to do. The earlier that I accept that, the more I can let myself enjoy a day off.