Free Time

This can become the gift that we refuse to receive.

Because who isn’t fighting some kind of virus right now or at the very least, just plain tired?

It is as if we are all ready for the Christmas break a month ahead of schedule.

Including me.

Life can get stupidly full.

We live within a culture that rarely recognises the value let alone the necessity of free time or rest.

The nonstop stimulation/attention demanding nature of constantly ‘on’ technology means that it is an ongoing challenge to switch off the technology let alone the mind.

It is as if the concept of free time has become too costly to indulge in when there is always something or someone wanting our attention.

With little or no thought to the personal cost of being constantly ‘on’.

The physical body needs time to be free from the exertions of activity.  Ditto the heart, mind and soul.

And yet, in addition to the advances of technology, there is an all pervasive cultural ideology that can guilt trip us in the face of free time.

What I mean is that often people have accepted a belief that rest or downtime or free time is wasteful or even a sign of laziness.

Many are tormented by internal harsh task masters that drive them to constantly be doing.

Their value has become enmeshed with their activity and productivity rather than the essence of who they are.

Exhausting and unnecessary especially in the face of a God who loves us as we are, rather than for what we do.  The paradox being that in the face of such a love, one feels naturally motivated to do what one is able.  The challenge then becomes in knowing when to stop doing in order to rest.

It would seem that within our frenetic pace of life, our capacity for self care has become considerably diminished.

We have lost the ability to appreciate and enjoy free time.

Time out.

Down time.

Off time.

Rest.

Space.

Quiet.

Time to allow our body, mind, heart and soul to be still.

Time to restore, recharge, recover and reboot.

For me this week, it was time to walk or run amongst the stunning array of autumnal colours displayed in the leaves currently cushioning the walkways.  

Time to celebrate a birthday with a good friend, obviously involving excessive amounts of sugar loaded treats.

Or time to try a new spiced apple cake recipe.  So good I accidentally devoured a large chunk in place of dinner.  Oops.

Or time to sample my first home made mince pie of the season.  Warmed!

Or time to walk instead of drive and thus to notice this squirrel eating out of the bin.  Maybe he has a nut allergy.

And even time to notice and capture this frozen cobweb shimmering in the sunlight of the frosty morning.

We can all fall in to the trap of utilising every minute of every day to be doing.

But time out and off are not optional extras for this thing called life.

They are the fuel that stops us from burning out.

And when we refuse to take care of ourselves by making and using the gift of free time, we are falling in to a way of being that is more harmful than healthy.

At this time of year, the body protests via lowered immunity leading to increased susceptibility to all the seasonal viruses seeking a host.

There is much that we cannot control or prevent.

But we can choose whether to take the time out that we need to maintain the best level of health that we can.

A refusal to take time out to rest impacts our health.

The constant activity also impacts our relationships because these also require our time, attention and love.

And relationships start with the relationship with the self.

As we approach what can be one of the busiest seasons of the year, one of the best gifts of self care that we can give ourselves is to plan in some down time!