Alone time – something that stay-at-home moms don’t get to indulge in very often. Let me rephrase that; meaningful alone time is something that stay-at-home moms don’t get very often. I’m alone for a few hours each day while the kids are at school but it isn’t meaningful in a way that allows me to work on things that I really want to accomplish. Just when I sit down to work on something import important to me I realize that the laundry needs to be switched out and that there are dishes in the sink and that beds need to be made and more laundry has to be started and the living room needs to be vacuumed and that we don’t have anything for dinner. Not that those things aren’t important. They are extremely important but there is more to me than making beds and doing laundry.
I’m trying to make a go of this writing thing. Blogging has become a huge part of my life and as I meet more bloggers and get deeper into this culture I realize that blogging is writing. I have simultaneously become very involved in two blogging/writing groups. One more than the other but both very active. The first, Oklahoma Women Bloggers. I see the potential in this group and have been trying my darndest to make it grow and thrive to the point that I organized a blogging conference with two of my friends. It was an incredible weekend and the perfect experience to get my feet wet in planning conferences.
The second group of writers I’m involved with is a group of women I met online after I was a part of Jen Hatmaker’s book launch team. I have started collaborating with these women and am now involved in writing a year long devotion book. Just as my writing conference was winding down a deadline for the other group was approaching and I knew I needed some free time to work on it. Laundry-free-dirty-dishes-free free time.
The conference was over on a Saturday afternoon, I was a few hours from home, my ears couldn’t take any more talking, the rates at the lodge where we had the conference were off-peak. Everything lined up and Dear Husband agreed that I could use 24 hours all to myself.
I checked myself out of the conference and checked right back in at the Lodge at Sequoyah State Park. This is my new favorite place. Beautiful grounds, walking trails and right on a lake. It is the perfect spot to reflect on what is going on in life, goals you want to accomplish and what needs to be done to achieve those goals. After a long walk contemplating the meaning of life, I popped in my ear buds in, turned on a classical station on Pandora and cozied up to the fire and free wifi in the lobby. The Lodge itself has been completely redone in the past two years so the room was very comfortable and had its own little patio where I enjoyed coffee and leftover bagels and cream cheese from the conference.
Alone time isn’t for everybody. I’ve heard that extroverts have a hard time being quiet and by themselves. I, on the other hand, enjoy my own company. I love my family but I also love silence and a book. I was amazed at how much work I was able to get done when left alone and without distractions. By the end of my 24 hours of solitude I felt recharged and was ready to see Dear Husband and my boys again.
When I walked in the door I was greeted with hugs and kisses. Nothing makes you feel more loved and appreciated than a great big family hug and everyone telling you how much they missed you. Even Conan the dog got in on the family love fest. I thought to myself that Addison looked slightly taller and he said that I looked shorter. Clear evidence that he grew in the short time I was gone.
So, I’ve just now made this commitment to myself. Each year I will find a little meaningful alone time. Be it in Sequoyah State Park or some place similar. Because nothing makes you love your people more than spending a little time away from them. And nothing inspires you to do what you love by actually spending time doing it.
Marisa
That’s awesome! There’s nothing more powerful than a personal writer’s retreat to get your head on straight and give you the time to do what you want to do.
Chris Carter
I’m SO glad you did this for yourself, Stephanie. I SO want to go on a weekend retreat alone to write! It seemed like perfect timing for you, after the conference. Time for you to regroup, recharge, and dive into your writing project- which by the way, is SO exciting!!
(I can’t wait to hear more!)