On a Pleasant Monday Morn

A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in. 

--Robert Orben--

It's Monday, but there was no crawling out of bed in the wee hours of dawn for me.  This is my first full day of vacation, and it felt good to lounge about for awhile this morning.  Mind you, when I sleep-in I  never make past 9 am.  In my youth, I was one who could sleep the day away if you'd let me, but now that I am older, too much lying in bed stiffens my bones.  

This is my first 'real' vacation since last April. Yes, I did take two weeks in December, but that was at moving time.  The first week was spent finishing up the sorting and packing in the old place; the second week was spent unpacking and arranging in my new home. The first Saturday in the new place just happened to be a cooking weekend so, when you look at it,  Sunday was actually my only day of rest.  That was definitely not what I look for in a vacation.

I made myself a promise that I'm going to spend my time relaxing and working hard to stay in the 'now'.  There are hard times ahead at work, and it is important that I take this time to clear my head before it 'all breaks loose'.  One of my co-workers got a promotion, and she will be leaving at the end of the month.  Two of her clients will be added to my already overwhelming caseload of 30. I'm also inheriting a rather needy client from another co-worker who just cannot work with her. That, and an intake that is already awaiting my return will bring my caseload up to 34.  And that's not the whole of it.

My co-worker also runs three groups a week. In addition, our nurse has been given permission to take a month's vacation.  She just happens to run groups a week; luckily she has no caseload.  And, to add fuel to the fire, our intern will be leaving on May 3rd. She runs three groups.  That's thirteen groups that will have to be covered. I already have four groups.  It worries me because I see a major case of burnout coming.  At 65, I cannot handle the workload that I once could.  Age  has slowed me down.

 Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right nowwithout wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without

holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant

without fearing it will always be this way (which it won't).

-James Baraz-

But, look at me.  Didn't I say I was going to stick to the 'now'?  My objective is to forget work for this 'one' week and focus on 'me' and my needs. There's clothes shopping to do, hair to be cut and colored; I've decided to add a bit of red to my hair.  Not a bright red, but a very light auburn. The reddish shades have always made me look my best.   I'm also planning to hop on the 'Sea Beach Express' and head on out to Coney Island. Haven't had a 'real' Nathan's hot dog in  years.  Oh, there is so much fun to be had...and great weather to boot.  Who could ask for anything more?

We don't stop playing because we turn old,

but turn old because we stop playing.

Satchel Paige