Spa Day for the Mind
A break for the brain
This post is free, but it includes (at the bottom) a bonus post to thank my paid subscribers. The bonus post is a full Autumn Blessings/Mabon ritual. You my subscribers, free and paid, are one of the things I’ll be giving thanks for this season. And extra thanks for the paid subscribers who make this blog possible.
Spa Day for the Mind
It’s been a week, and my brain is tired. It was the first week of classes, and I am so glad I only took two this semester, because one of them is a bear. (But it’s one of those friendly bears you’d ask for directions if lost in the woods.)
All week it’s been reading, and note taking, and lectures, and more note taking. I take copious notes. I’ve had a headache every day this week, which might be all the screen time, or might be because I got my Covid and Flu shots last weekend. Either way, I need a brain-break and today’s the day.
How it Goes
The brain-break, for me, is to stop thinking and just be, to feel and experience my life with all five (or more) senses for a day, to be fully present and fully aware.
My only rule is, I get to do whatever I most feel like doing in any given moment. This is a wonderful exercise for days off.
The key is to not think about what I want to do, but rather, to feel my way. It’s a day of following my heart, and letting my feelings guide me, instead of doing what I think should be done next. It’s a day let the to-do list go and just this once, do whatever I want.
Normally, I try to live every day this way, and all those “must-do” things somehow get done. But since adding college, and working to increase the frequency my novel releases, I admit, I’m trusting my heart less, and “pushing-through” more.
I’m aware of it, and aware it’s a bit of a tradeoff. I’m also aware that if I had the kind of faith I want to have, I’d trust myself to follow my heart and I would find that everything would still get done, and I’d be happier. But give me a minute. This is the first week of classes. I need time to adjust.
The Pause Between Segments
But back on topic. The brain-break. All day I did whatever my heart wanted. But to know what my heart wants, means I have to go quiet in between activities or segments of my day. In between each task or action, I have to settle down, relax, and really listen and feel my heart’s subtle whispers. Only then will I know what I want to do next.
It’s a good idea to always take this sort of break between tasks, even on nose-to-grindstone days—especially on nose-to-grindstone days. It only takes 3 to 5 minutes to find a pleasant space, take a few breaths, do a few stretches, quiet the mind. If you have 15, enjoy a favorite snack or beverage, or meditate to find your guiadance.
How it Went
I started the day early, before anyone else was awake. With a warm mug of just-brewed decaf between my palms and wrapped in my heavy spa-robe, I stepped outside. It was brisk and cold. Too cold to linger long, but I closed my eyes and breathed deeply of that crisp apple air that tastes like autumn.
In those earliest hours of my day, I composed a blog post, and I then watched a football game—Thursday night’s season opener, Chiefs-Ravens. I love football, but I’m a busy woman who goes to bed early, so I record the games and watch the next day. (Sometimes during NFL season, I Scotch tape sheets of printer paper across the bottom of my TV screen, because they always spoil the other games by scrolling scores and highlights, and I want to watch them all.) So I enjoyed that time thoroughly. I meditated after that. And my heart whispered many things I’d like to do, beginning with a walk outside.
When Roxanne, my aging mastiff, also felt ready, we took a long walk outside. She waded into the pond, and stood there for a while. I think the cold water soothes her joints. I stood in the sunshine and fed the fish, then walked around inspecting all the plants and things. The leaves are starting to change, and that annual fall phenomenon thrills me like nothing else in this lifetime.
On the way back to the house, Roxy decided to stretch out on the blacktop of the driveway in the sun to warm her bones after her cool dip. So I sneaked inside to grab the laptop. (If she saw me go, she’d follow—separation anxiety.) I got it quietly without her noticing, then I sat on the stone patio, within sight of her, beside the waterfall hubs built for us.
I did some social media scrolling and read some of my favorite blog posts, and did a little bit of online shopping. I needed a part for my house-mounted flag pole.
I took a long lovely lunch break with a bowl of “Delightful Rice,” leftover from dinner the night before. It’s made with tomatoes, black beans, a hint of curry. The recipe was my Saturday food blog post, actually.
I felt creative in the afternoon, and a scene was spinning itself in my mind, so wrote it down. It’s the very first scene of my next novel. (Yes, I just finished one. That’s how you make a living as an author, finish one, start the next.) I never deny the muse. If she’s whispering in my ear, I’m writing it down.
Then I made some sweet potato brownies and cleaned out a kitchen cabinet that’s been bothering me.
There’s still time left before hubs will be home, so…
I have this gigantic tub I never use. It’s just quicker to shower. The tub has massage jets that don’t work, and can’t be replaced because it’s an old model whose parts are no longer made. It came with the house. Someday, we’ll replace it, but for now it’s just an oversized tub, and today, I’m going to fill it and soak. I’ll drip in some essential oils, sandalwood, or vanilla or both. I’ll light candles and put on the perfect music. And I will sink into the warmest water I can stand and stay until it cools. Ahhh.
And for dinner tonight, comfort food. Roasted potatoes, dripping in my favorite mushroom gravy to start. I haven’t decided on the sides yet. Maybe a light veggie stir-fry of snap peas, carrots, broccoli, and pineapple. Yum. And the brownies I made for dessert.
What a perfect spa day for my mind!
Meanwhile, in my real job….
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