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Many of us have done it: taken a vacation day and stayed local, not to pamper ourselves or visit local spots of interest, but to tackle a personal to-do list. I’ve been doing this more frequently in recent years. I’ll use a vacation day to complete a yoga teacher training class, to start my garden or even take a cooking or art class.
Each “vacation day” is just 24 hours. Yet I’ve noticed I value that chunk of vacation time more than the same 24-hour span in an average weekend. Hmmm.
If an hour is an hour, why do I value one collection of 24 hours outside of work more than another?
My best guess: weekends are routine and filled with chores and the vacation day isn’t. I’m simply more mindful on a vacation day. I consciously allocate my time those days. I pause more. I consciously breathe more. I try to remember the small parts of the day. I don’t always do that on a weekend, so weekends feel “lesser than.”
But I have more weekend days in a year than vacation days. What would happen if I shift that consciousness? What if I approach the weekend in a mindful way, soaking in each moment and expending my energy and time wisely, thoughtfully, and with heart? Would I value the weekend days more even though they include chores? Would I feel more recharged? Would I benefit others more?
Cynthia Rylant wrote a wonderful children’s book on the value of a day titled All in a Day. I’ve cracked this book recently for my own inspiration. I’m glad I did…because as mindful as I try to be, I’ve forgotten much about expending time.
Rylant voices the small, but good things a day can hold to help shift our consciousness. She describes a day as “a perfect piece of time.” She reminds us we can take in the world by watching the sun, working, being kind, making wishes, or appreciating our roots. Near the end of the book, she brings up points that I forget too often: each day has cycles, each day starts new, and each day holds space for change.
Because tomorrow hasn’t happened and yesterday can’t be redone, we really only have today.
Rylant reminds us to live today. So whether it’s a vacation day or a weekend day or an average workday, her message is to notice it so that we can value it, so that we can live it and then embrace it. We have all in each day provided we don’t value some days more than others.
I think I’ll jot some of her messages as little reminders on this weekend’s to-do list.
I recommend this book for all ages.
Themes: cycles, mindfulness, appreciation, life, change
Themes for Yoga Teachers: mindfulness, conscious living, appreciation, action, change
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
