Take Time For You

Taking A Walk On The Beach

Dear Friend,

Sometimes, life seems so complex and chaotic that we really have no idea where to start to wrest back control over it.

It may be necessary for you to take a personal time out.

This time out may be with family and/or friends, like a vacation.  However, I believe that you really need to spend some time completely alone before you will be able to perceive your world with clarity.

When’s the last time that you took time for yourself?  All alone?  For an hour, a day, a weekend, or a month?

It’s hard to do, isn’t it?  You have responsibilities that do not make room for this essential time out.  And perhaps your family and friends will start worrying.  They may start peppering you with questions, and imagine that you are not feeling well.  Their well-meaning concern can put a spotlight on a moment in your life when you just want to quietly slip away.  Discomfort with that possibility can make you hesitate to take action.

Just do it anyway.

Find a time window, explain to your loved ones that you want to take some time for quiet meditation.  That you are exploring your spiritual side.  This explanation may allay their concerns.  And if it doesn’t, then they’ll just have to deal with it.

Don’t take personal communications devices with you.  Or if you just cannot be without them, turn them off until you are ready to use them.  Being tethered to a cell phone is no different than being back in your old environment.

If you believe that you can use technology to help you think more clearly, then do so.  Personally, I find the Internet to be a valuable resource.  When I have a clear thought while alone I may do some research on it to flesh it out further.  If you can use the Internet in this way, that’s great.

However, if you get business emails on your laptop, you will need to turn that feature off in your email software.  And don’t let your home page default to a business web site or to your webmail.

I think that you get the idea.  I am not anti-technology.  I just understand that we have to make technology our servant, not our master.

Thinking about your responsibilities while away will devastate your ability to clearly look inward.  We cannot abrogate our responsibilities, of course.  Nevertheless, we have a right to a real vacation once in a while.  A vacation from duties, from the rest of our busy, noise-filled lives.  You must give yourself permission to let those responsibilities take a short rest.

I hope that you will start to plan your personal “vacation” today.  Where you go and what you do are not important, though I find that a completely different environment than you are accustomed to is often a good idea.  And don’t make plans.  The fewer new responsibilities that you assume, the better.  No deadlines.  No schedules.

I wish you a peaceful experience.

All the best,

Hugh