Alone-With-My-Thoughts

How do you unwind after a demanding day?

This is a difficult question for someone who is and always has been in fight or flight mode.

As a young, single parent adult, there was a learning pattern that I developed within myself. One that I taught myself that I HAD to succeed at motherhood. I HAD to go above and beyond, sacrifice and stay true to the “American Dream” of demands that encompassed my journey through life. The demands that not only those close to me, as well as society but most of all myself put on my life was something that I never had the opportunity, or should I say, never seized the opportunity to allow myself to ever be in the unwind mode.

As your children grow up, the expectations from everyone around you continues to grow as well. The demands of life often are more than a person should ever have to endure alone yet, the childhood and young adult behavioral traits remind you of the need to succeed (at whatever the current task at hand is).

Rewind mode now looks much different than in those younger years. It often looks like a slow walk in the woods or a brisk stroll through the park. It means sitting in a quiet house, alone with my thoughts, contemplating my next move towards living a peaceful and happy retirement life.

Whatever your relaxing mode may be, I hope that when you look back on life, you don’t have to search too much to find that you are already in your peaceful and relaxing place.