"Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can
buy shit we don't need." Tyler Durden
Ironic... the week I remove the blog for being "too personal," is the week I
find the need to write something really personal. Often, and I've hinted or
maybe flat out wrote it, that these are directed back at me at times. So when
reading this, dont take it personally... I'm also talking to myself.
That quote at the top popped in my head today and maybe I shouldnt admit that
they often do. Fight Club quotes? Kinda weird, no? But it fits.
We're very busy people these days. We're working overtime or 2 or 3 jobs.
Stay at home moms are nearly extinct. Prices are going up yet our wages are
staying nearly the same. I was talking to a man who has been driving a semi for
nearly 30 years. His son is graduating high school in a few weeks and then off
to college. We somehow got to talking about school funding and how horrible he
felt voting his down. "I make the same amount of money now as a I did in
2002... but everything around me is more expensive." So he needs a second
job.
There are people I dont see in the gym as often as they'd like to be there.
I ask "where are you?" and they're busy... and they are. I know its not an
excuse. I know they're not blowing me off, it really has zero to do with me or
the workout... they're just flat out busy. School, work, the 2nd job, then
errands and managing life, kids, dinners, little leagues... then we get a free
second....
...and thats where my mind is. What are we doing with the free moments?
When the day is finally coming to a resting point... what are you doing?
It's 11:43 pm right now... My resting point began about 90 minutes ago where
I wasted some time watching a sitcom and Greys Anatomy (and what a waste that
was! Terrible season finale!). I'm not overly thrilled about wasting my time
in front of the television right now... I never really have but its kind of been
automatic, and I'm working on changing that.
I went on a vacation a couple weeks ago and had some excellent time to read
and write. I remember sitting there thinking something along the lines of how
amazingly ironic that I had to fly to another country to find time, to force
myself to find time, to sit down with my thoughts... and do nothing but stare
into space... and thats exactly what I did.
I sat. I read some. I wrote some notes and observations... random
thoughts. It helps clear my head and put everything in line.
Then I got home and thought "That habit isnt lost in Mexico... I need it
here." I need to find time to stop and breathe. We all need that time. We
all need to find a way to sit down and do absolutely nothing.
No television. No computer. No cell phones. Sit and breathe and that is
all. Does that sound crazy? What if you showed up to an appointment with
me... and instead of heading to the treadmill, we sat in a quiet room... and did
nothing but breathe? For 30 minutes, you will sit there and breathe as slow
and as deep as you can... would you be mad at me? :)
What if that was the best part of your day? 30 minutes of turning the world
"off." What if you did that everyday? What if I told you, you'd start to feel
less stressed and that you'd start to see things differently?
I get it... but I dont get it. The car that you thought you needed to make
you happy, is the reason you need to work 2 jobs... still happy?
I talk to so many people everyday... all week and everyone is
stressed. Right now as I write this, I'm thinking of someone who works too many
hours... someone who is in school and working two jobs.... someone who is so
stressed they cant get their thoughts straight... someone who sits up til
midnight working on a website, emailing, facebooking, and writing crazy blogs
that only his parents read :) hi mom.
Take a break... the weather is going to be beautiful this weekend... go to a
park... go sit down and be alone for 30 minutes.... and do nothing but
breathe.
Trust me. You wont regret it.
