I am having a bout of hives. I get them from time to time, a true affliction of mystery. I can never really find any common denominator. And you know, it could be every fiber of my being screaming resistance to turning 50. Could be. I AM ALLERGIC TO TURNING 50!
I've been wanting to take a day off, and I figured whatever is causing these damn hives, it is probably making me tired. .. I might need some rest. I might need a break. So I took the opportunity and called in sick, made a doctor appointment, confirmed I have hives, came home and made some chicken salad. Puttered. There was pure silence all day long in the house.
Being alone in my own house is a tonic. (It's way better than showering). I just let the silence settle around me, like a blanket. I listen to all the sounds that happen every day while I am gone: the sounds the house makes as it breathes, the birds and squirrels outside, cars on the street. Somehow, it helps me come back to myself and feel grounded, at peace. It seems to be especially effective when everyone else is at work and I am not, as if I have somehow truly stopped time and stepped out of that workday picture for those few blessed hours.
I want to add a Grounding Day to my calendar about every 3-4 months. They are way too few and far between and so, so helpful. So this year, I declare that it will be my Grounding Year.
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Sorry to hear about your hives, Laura. I was home sick on Monday also, with my own mystery affliction. I like your idea of a "Grounding Year"! Sounds like you are starting to think of ways to deal with your second half-century instead of denying it!
ReplyDeleteso much better than groundHOG day...this grounding day. love this post, laura. except i was sorry to hear about yourhives. what a mystery, indeed. perhaps you should start a new holiday (i'm in) with your grounding day,,open only to women 50 and over. and yes, it should be a bi-monthly day. every two months, don't wait three or four! i love the idea of the quiet house. so so true dat!
ReplyDeleteWell, I still think this ought to be the Year of the Hot Tub.
ReplyDeleteWhen I actually get the house to myself, all I can do is sit and sit and stare into space, I'm so happy about the peacefulness.
What a price to pay to get that, though ---hives! I'm sorry to hear about that.