Somehow, November weekends have become very busy. This weekend, for instance, there was a Friday night event to attend, a Saturday afternoon baby shower (with an hour+ r/t drive), work Saturday night and then brunch in Woodstock Sunday morning with a couple of girlfriends.
It was a multi-country extravaganza with hundreds of people surrounding me.
It was a lot.
From a young age, my mother dubbed me a social butterfly, a title with which I was comfortable. I enjoy meeting people and can legitimately talk to anyone.* My employment history clearly illustrates my inclination to work in positions that are front facing and deal with the public – store clerk, server, public library employee, medical receptionist, school librarian.
It’s pretty darn consistent.
None of this, however, means that I don’t need time alone to keep my balance.
When I received a text Sunday morning from one of the girls I was supposed to meet later with who had a wrench thrown into her plans, my immediate impulse was to pivot and make an alternative plan. I could still go to Woodstock and enjoy brunch as a party of 2 instead of 3. Or, maybe I could meet another downstate friend who has been on mind. There was also the option of sticking closer to home and getting brunch with someone local…
After mentally and otherwise exploring each of these alternatives, I decided to walk the dog, hoping he’d indulge me for a long amble. I popped on my headphones and pressed play on my current audiobook and hit the door.
An hour later we were back home and I was hungry. I freshened up a bit and made my way to The Den with a couple of sections of the NYT and a hankering for lunch at the bar.
I chatted with the servers, my first conversations other than text messages for the day. It was lovely and exactly the level of social interaction I was seeking.
As the holidays approach, demands upon personal time are going to be on the upswing. As your calendar fills in, I’m here to suggest that you block out some time that belongs only to you. Whether it’s an hour or a complete afternoon, reserve a chunk of time that is yours alone.
After all, we all need to recharge our fun battery.
*other than those who support the current regime.
DelSo 