The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
C2C reading for July 16 speaks about the importance of taking the time to relax because of the benefit to our mental health and well-being.The reading goes on to state that society supports the fact that we should be busy all the time, so that it is often very difficult for us to find the time to just" be."
I know that keeping busy kept me from thinking about my life , my unhappiness and fears. I focused on my job and deadlines and was not really present in my intimate life. .
Al-Anon suggested that if I look at my motives and actions, I would discover that I do not nor could not treat anyone as harshly as I treated myself. We would never ask anyone that we cared about to go without rest, never having any fun, but that is exactly what we have asked of ourselves.The reading stresses the importance of taking the time to learn what gives us pleasure and to then setting aside time to participate in that activity.
Hard work can be terrific and my activities can be highly rewarding, but I am striving for some balance in my life so that today I will look at how I spend my time and set aside some of the time to relax.
The quote is from Bertrand Russell; "the time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."
Powerful quote---Finding the middle ground in all I do is my goal.
This is a topic that speaks directly to me. For 5 years I worked 2 jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. All at the expense of my physical and mental health. I thought I was so strong and superior and this is what needed to be done. How wrong I was to neglect my well-being. I am now on a stress leave from my full time job for the summer and gave up my part time cleaning business. I am pretty broke but the money right now is not as important and I know we will be ok. I am thoroughly enjoying my "down time" and trying not to stress about going back to work in September. I am doing all the things I never had time to do--going to the gym during the day when it's much less crowded, taking the dog to the park, grocery shopping during the weekday, reading book after book, going to the movies, leisurely cleaning the house, cooking and baking, laying on my deck in the sun, watching TV, the list goes on and on. Thanks Betty.
Yea for you yankee rose. I too need a mental
Health break from working too much. I was at
Home for 15 years so i know how to relax and
Enjoy my life. I have been there and I know i
need More balance in my life again before i
totally Crash and burn.
Thanks Roseann And Mirandac, I know that program did help me to see why I burried myself in being busy.
I am so pleased that today. I too allow myself to read a book, listen to music and relax at the beach.
What a lovely gift Al-Anon. is
You know.....all my time is mine now. Yeah I go to work and work hard but when that day is over it's me BABY. If I want to clean, I clean. If I want to be lazy I'm lazy. I've change a lot over this last year...maybe a little to much but I will find that balance because everything is going to go hell in a hand basket if I don't get off my butt
__________________
Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
Speak only when you feel that your words are better than your silence.