What Are You Doing For You?
Shockingly, I get this question more often than I ever thought. It usually takes place in a conversation where we exchange our daily routines, activities, etc, and I get an odd look, and finally, someone asks, “How do you have time to do something for you? Or they ask, “When do you have time to do the things you want to do?” To be honest, I am doing those things.
Now living in Florida, I learned to play golf. If that's what you call it. Honestly, I go out there with a nice golf club and smack a little white ball and hope for the best. I’m not good enough yet, to know where and when to correct what I’m doing wrong.
But I can tell you that I go out for myself. I go out there and hit that little white ball because it’s one of the only things that relies solely on me.
Me playing golf doesn’t require a team, a meeting, a progress report, hiring and firing, or anything else with anyone else. I can walk the course or ride in a cart. I can keep score or not.
Whatever it is, I do it for me.
To be honest, it took a long time for me to do that. I used to shame myself for doing things for myself. I worked all the time, and whenever I did have some free time, I would spend it with my family. I wouldn’t have dreamed of having alone time. Little did I know how important that time is to spend alone or just doing something for you.
Maybe you like playing chess in the park, going to a movie alone, or going out to dinner alone or with a friend. Whatever it is, and whoever it's with, it can be for you, and that is ok. I have found that my “me” time is sometimes better spent alone. It helps clear my head. I can cut out the chaos and the noise just long enough for me to reset.
It’s a good feeling.
So I ask, What are you doing for you? Or better yet, when are you going to start doing something for you? And believe me, I have heard a lot of the excuses or reasons it can’t be done. I promise you, it can be done. You have kids, great. Can you find a sitter for 1 night a month to go out and do something?
You have a job, great; last time I checked, most jobs don’t require you to be clocked in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year long.
It rains where you live, good, then it's like you’re already going swimming. The sun is too hot; get a tan. It’s too quiet; read a book. My car won’t start, so go for a walk. Whatever it is, I’m sure you can find something to do by yourself, for yourself, and with yourself.
The cool part is that it can start to become a routine or a habit for you. Every Tuesday, the local theatre near my house offers $5 movies. Do you know how many people go there alone? EVERY TUESDAY! They love it, they do it for themselves. It’s time away.
Take a step in the right direction and start doing something for you.
10 mins alone on your back porch sipping coffee at 6 am might be all you need. But it’s something you can look forward to; you’re doing it for you, and you feel better afterward.
