Recently I had a reckoning with myself. I discovered that 100% of my day was filled with other people's expectations and personal responsibilities. Or, said another way, my day was filled with 0% of time spent doing things I enjoyed just for the pleasure of it.
The pleasurable moments are what feed my soul. They are the very things that give me the energy to do everything else in my life. Without allowing myself any time to prioritize my own soul food, I was depleted. That led me to get curious. What exactly are the things that feed my soul? It took me an alarming amount of time to come up with just a few. Some are simple, like painting my nails. I love glancing down at my hands to the brightness of an unnatural color that lifts my spirits. Some things are connection, like spending time with friends. This could be a visit in person or even a lengthy telephone call (although these days I do prefer at least video chats!) Some things are peaceful, like walking absurdly late at night especially because regardless of how close I am to the heart of the city I feel magically alone. Some things are nourishing, like drinking tea in the early morning sun on my front porch overlooking the beauty of an un-manicured garden. Some things are powerful, like basking in the glory of the rushing waters of the Chattahoochee River. No matter what life giving food they share with me, it replenishes that depleted energy. I am still not prioritizing enough of these, but at least I know when I am completely exhausted it may not be sleep I am most in need of. It very well may be that I am in need of the energy that can only come from the purely pleasurable moments of life. And, I find that filling up on these things creates the very energy needed for the other moments that make life, life. Without which, this book may never get written.
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AuthorMelinda Lee is a mom of two adolescent boys, a devout student of all things spiritual, a recovering perfectionist, and immensely fascinated with achieving the unachievable. Currently writing a memoir about hugging strangers. Archives
February 2023
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