95% Adult, 5% Free
“To live is so startling, it leaves little time for anything else.”
I'm an adult 95% of the time.
We, productive citizens of society, have quite a bit on our collective plates. If we are not rushing to work, we are taking care of our families, homes, finances, our futures and hopefully, our health. Don't get me wrong. I'm fortunate to have a job to rush to, and a home and family to come back to. But, maintaining all aspects of life can be tiring. Every once in a while, we need to hit the snooze button.
Case and point. Last week, Baltimore enjoyed a humidity free, pleasant morning. If you don't know about Summer on the East Coast, such a morning is extremely rare. My dogs woke me up to go outside and when I opened the back door, I noticed the tranquility of the neighborhood. The sun's rays bounced off the grass, flowers were in full bloom and the sky was a beautiful light blue. Hearing the sounds of waves crashing on the beach, is all that was missing from my utopia.
Preparing for the work day commences once my dogs complete their business. This morning however, Hailey and Bandit wanted to stay outside. So did I. For the next 30 minutes, I played with my pooches, enjoyed my coffee and remembered how fortunate I am to live a comfortable life. My M.O. is to seek new experiences and challenges, but having appreciation for the life I have now, is just as important. Unfortunately, stopping to smell the roses has consequences.
I left the house late. I arrived to work late. I worked at a frenetic pace to make up for lost time. That's life as a responsible adult. Careers. Bills. Chores. Family. Relationships. Community. Health. Taxes. The list goes on and on. If you have children or elderly relatives, there is even more to add. I realize these are #FirstWorldProblems, but that does not diminish the stresses of our reality. This is why the occasional day off or a planned vacation is viewed as a joyful pause on the merry go round of life.
Life is beautiful and busy. And 95% of the time, I take my responsibilities seriously. But, every once in a while, I will sit on my porch, slowly drink my coffee and revel in the beauty of peace. No cellphones, no alarms and no worries about the piles of work on my desk.