And on the 7th day, Sunday, he rested.

January 24th, 2010 - I used to think it was indulgent to have a day of the week that was all about 'recharging the batteries' where one could catch up from the weeks activities, but then I turned 50. Once you reach that certain age, you realize it is not an indulgent, it is a necessity. It is not being selfish, it is about bringing my body back to life. I mean even God rested on the seventh day. So Sunday is my day and it is all about me. I go through a lot of manuevering to keep Sundays obligation free. No, I have to go to the store, or I have to clean house, or I have to visit my friend, not even I have to take a shower and get dressed. If I choose to do those activities I can but on the other hand if I choose for Sundays to be my stay in my sweats, read the paper, over indulge in eating, watch movies or football and ignor the phone, days, then so be it.

So how does one go about learning to utilize this day of rest to the fullest. First, under no circumstances do you make any plans. Any. When asked to do something that involves a schedule and Sunday, pretend not to hear, act like you don't understand the question, even pretend that someone is calling you, but what ever you do, don't make plans. The goal for Sundays are to see how long you can do absolutely nothing, before you realize you are doing something, which is working on doing absolutely nothing. My plan of attack. I love to wake up early, have a cup of coffee in bed, and read the paper. The key is getting up early, I feel like I am cheating the world when I do this. Getting up early is the part that says, "haha, I am up early and I DON'T have to go to work or do anything. Sometimes this getting up early really takes stamina, as I also like to stay up late on Saturday, knowing I don't have to get up on Sunday. But to fully have my Sunday I have to get up early. A little confusing but makes perfect sense in my head. Then I like to turn my nose up at the shower. Yep, I could use a shower, but guess what, I don't have to take one because I have no where to go. I can stay in my sweats all day, as long as I can stand my own smell and the look of my 'bedhead'. Somewhere around mid-morning I may get up to make breakfast, or just pop in some cinnamon rolls and pretend calaries don't count on Sunday. I am always checking the clock as I want this day to go as slowly as possible. After a bite to eat, I cozy up with some books, have the food network going on TV, and mentally plan what my next snack will be. By the end of the day my sweatshirt is a roadmap that speaks to what I have eaten all day. By Sunday evening, I am well rested, well fed, and ready to face the upcoming week.

I thought that I would get bored with not having specific plans for Sunday, but I don't. I thought folks would think it strange that I need this time, but most people admit, they too need some 'down'time. But mostly I thought how could I enjoy a whole day with nothing specific on my agenda and then I realized that is exactly what I enjoy. So take a chance, be daring, be spontaneous, don't make plans, let the lists sit for a day, and have a day to 'enjoy' being with yourself.