I’ve started to pay closer attention to the words I say. I had a lovely lunch with my friend Brian the other day, and at least twice I heard myself say
I need to slow down. I need to slow down my life.
It made me think.
The other day, my car was broken into. I’d come home from a long day, full of social commitments and work. I felt sick, I was running myself ragged. I grabbed my guitar and went in the house.
I didn’t lock my car.
I stayed home the next day and didn’t drive. Friday morning I got in, and right away I knew something was off. My glovebox was open, parking stubs were scattered on the floor, and my heart sank. I called my husband and asked him if he’d gone through my car, looking for something. I already knew what he would say.
No. It had been someone else. A thief. A stranger.
It’s a terrible feeling, having your sacred space violated. You feel exposed, vulnerable. I won’t say I wasn’t upset. I won’t say I didn’t cry. But I learned something. This was a blessing in disguise.
I need to slow down. It was because I was so tired that I left the car unlocked, and it was broken into. It was my packed calendar that led to this happening.
And because of all of this, I’ve made a decision. From now until the end of August, I’m going to be the “No” Girl. My plan is to wrap up all of my current social commitments and not take on any new ones between now and September.
No book club.
No (new) yoga club.
No writing group.
No committees.
No meetings.
Just say
NO.
I need a break. I’m taking one. Any tips fellow no-sayers have to share are much appreciated. This is very new territory for me, and I need all the help & guidance I can get.
I’m really excited for this hiatus, and what will come of it.
Happy Sunday, everyone. Blessings & peace to you and yours.
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3 Comments
I’m so sorry to hear that your car was broken into, Nicole. Not a good feeling at all.
But it sounds like you have this figured out…saying no lays such a guilt trip on us some times. But we just need to do it when we can. This is always good advice to hear.
Wow, very timely post for me, as I’ve been having these same thoughts about myself. I’ve become way too over committed lately, and if feels like I never have a moment to just decompress, to just be me. I’m going the same route as you, just shutting things down for a while to recharge.
BTW, sorry to hear your car got broken into. I had that happen to me once, back when I lived in Minneapolis. It was the one and only time that I didn’t remove the detachable faceplate from my car stereo, and that day someone broke in and stole it. It certainly sucks.
Good for you taking some time off, Nicole. I’ve been on a social media hiatus lately too, preoccupied with other things.
On a side note, my car has been riled through several times in the last year and a half, both in our garage and driveway. The first time it happened, the person took a phone adapter and I was rattled. It taught me to try to always lock the car and never leave anything of value in it. Now that it’s happened a couple of times, it just merely irritates me. Totally lame that people do this.