Mom's Day Out

My first outing since surgery! Woohoo!

The only place I’ve been since October 14 besides home is the doctor’s office and my office at work for just a few hours this week. Oh, and I did step into Nekter to pick up the cold-brew protein smoothie that propelled me on a caffeine trip to Hyper-World.

Charli had soccer today, and oh how I love to watch her play. I thought it would be good for me to sit in the sun and catch some vitamin D. Only a few steps from the car to the field, and I was able to prop my foot up on an extra beach chair.

It occurred to me as I was gathering my things (book, glasses, sunscreen, blanket) that usually when I am at the field an hour early with Charli for pre-game, I go for a run or try to get an errand or something productive accomplished. That’s not a bad thing at all. But today I realized that given my current circumstance, I had permission — in fact a mandate — to just sit and read. For an entire hour!

It was glorious.

Then I got to watch my girl nail her free kicks and her team win their game 2-0.

Being more or less immobile these past two weeks has given me a bit of insight into myself. Of course, that I have an abundance of energy to burn and, in the words of Stuart Smalley, “That…is OK. “

But also that after all these years, I still haven’t learned to really listen to what my body, mind and soul need most at any given moment. Take today. Had I not been left-footless, today would have been a day when I would have gone for a run even though everything in me wanted to soak in the sun and devour my book. If going for a run is the thing I need most, fantastic. But if there’s an inner voice saying, “Be still,” I need to listen.