I have to say, life has been absolute madness lately. It seems as if there’s no time to stop and enjoy what’s around me, because I’m always running from one place to the next. And the problem with being constantly on the go, is that stopping somehow feels wrong. In academia (aka, the world in which I dwell), you constantly have your eye on the next paper, the next project, the next deadline to meet…and as such, I have done a whole lot of working and not nearly enough lounging…
I‘ve built up quite a few holiday hours since my move to Australia (yeah, four years ago), which necessitated some finger wagging in my general direction and strong encouragement to take a bit of time off. I know that there is never a good time to do it, so several weeks ago I bit the bullet and blocked out this week for a holiday. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I generally book a holiday when I’m going on…well, a holiday. You know, there are flights booked and plans made…suitcases packed and iPads charged up for the journey. The idea of taking a holiday and actually NOT heading off to some far flung destination is both unfamiliar…and brilliant.
You know what you can DO with a week’s holiday? Watch bad tv, go out to a movie with your Mr. in the middle of the week, bring some vintage dresses back to life and tackle that massive sewing pile. This beautiful Van Gogh print dress has been on my sewing To Do list for ages, as she fit perfectly in the waist but was a smidge too tight in the bust – an hour with my sewing machine and she’s ready for a night out on the town!
So, I’m embracing this forced hiatus and taking the time to do a whole lot of relaxing – and other important things like cookie-eating, hammock-swinging, and stop-and-smell-the-roses-ing. I have to say, it was hard to admit that the fabric of the universe would not unravel if I stepped out of the rat race for a week… but so far, the world seems intact and the lab has not fallen into disrepair in my absence.
Henceforth, every once in awhile, I hope we all take off the random Wednesday. Enjoy a long weekend, and fight the urge to try to schedule a trip or yet another place you need to be. Enjoy the calm quiet of your house. Stay safe in the knowledge that the world will not go into a holding pattern if it has to do without your constant focus for a day.
I have a purring cat on my lap and a cup of coffee in my hand, and the only place I need to be today, is right here.
When is your next Mental Health day?
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress: Modcloth (similar handmade & vintage)
Headband: Forever New (similar here and here)
Necklace: Magnolia (similar)
Bag: Gift (similar here & here)
Shoes: Seychelles via Amazon (one left here or similar here & here)
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