If I Could Spend a Day Alone … This is How it’d Go

I spend a day wishing for time to write after the kids’ bedtime.

Yet, when I get that time, I miss them. And I fall asleep. I’m always sleepy if I don’t keep the Coke Zero flowing. I slow to a crawl. Mind, body, and spirit. I institute process and procedure to possibly accomplish anything and also the leeway to set it all aside.

If I could just get a day, though …

What could you do? If Jesus or Buddha stuffed in an extra day – just a one-off, not an extra day. We can’t mess with the interval between Thursday night football and Monday night, or Sunday meditation service and Wednesday.

Just … a one-off.

What would you do if you had a day all to yourself? I could go all hedonistic and choose a day of horizontal orientation, countless grilled cheese sandwiches, and back-to-back-to-back January Jones movies. (Anger Management to X-Men First Class y todo.)

I’d stretch – but not for my phone

If I had a day totally free …

I’d do the right thing. I’d wake up and stretch – my limbs, not looking for my phone. I’d fill a glass of water before I powered up my laptop. I’d sit mindfully, meditate if I could manage it without falling right back to sleep.

I’d fire up the laptop.

I’d make the breakfast of champions: Two fried eggs, solid whites, runny yolks. I’d warm a dollop of refried beans, with a pat of butter and pinch of shredded American cheese. I’d warm two flour tortillas and read through comments and email from overnight.

I’d close the laptop.

I’d pour a glass of chocolate milk. I’d carry my plate to the porch. I’d push my plate forward and check my glucose level. I’d open a new notebook, jot the date, and record the reading. I suspect it’ll be ugly. I’ll write in one line my prediction why it was so bad.

I’d take my pills, and answer comments.

I’d catch up, and close the laptop again

I’d stay outside as long as I could. The noise – both from birdsong and the beeps of work trucks in reverse, with small plane engines and sirens – would provide the white noise I need. I’d catch up on social media, and close the laptop again.

Time for a walk.

I’d select two golf discs and hit the course at Veteran’s Park in Mint Hill. I’d throw and not keep score and see if that would help reduce the gritted F-bombs and high blood pressure. I’d walk purposefully but presently, appreciating the path I travel.

I’d come home and shower – and get down to work, with a handful of ginger snaps and a cold Coke Zero.

I want to write. I want to open a document and write, not edit. In 22 minutes, I want a post before me, a stream of consciousness but also reflective, of life and soccer and cheese. I’d save my work and read others’, hit social media on my behalf and theirs.

I’d close the laptop again.

I’d pull paper, hear the Norah Jones on my Pandora, and write. I’d write letters of appreciation I’d fallen behind on from last month. I’d skip my mom – for now – and tell Madison just how much I love and admire her. I’d write to Hayden and Camdyn next.

Mindful box sifting

I’d drag down a box of keepsakes from the garage.

I’d pick 25 items to give away. Mindfully. I want to give each of these items to someone who will use them, appreciate them. This is a future mindful activity for the challenge I’m taking. I’ll match Starting Lineup figures with favorite teams of friends I know.

At noon, I’ll have that grilled cheese (and maybe even a January Jones flick.)

I’ll nap with windows open and the breeze on my face. I’ll write more, expounding upon my fiction writing in the Snowflake Method. I’ll recall and formulate the memories and plot particulars and character quirks of my fabulous antagonist.

I’ll pour myself in. Who knows when I’ll stop the world and melt with it again?

I’ll read my friends. I’ll hit posts in the Peaceful Posse, and in my top commenters, and also the WordPress feed. A cross section of the beautiful writers I commiserate with. Real diversity, the kind that comes when we key on similarities and not retribution.

I’ll grill salmon and drink beer, on a night with zero plans, yet an infinite possibility.

What about you? What’s one thing you’d love to do with a day all to yourself? What’s one thing on my list you’d love to steal?

This post on Holistic Waferer inspired this post.