I am never alone.
On the rare, and somewhat monumental, occasions that I am, I almost don’t know what to do with myself. Preprogrammed like a channel of reruns, I tend to replay the elements of my typical day, not easily slipping into the opportunity of “me” time with the simple grace I’d like to be capable of.
Nevertheless, I try.
As if reintroducing myself to a distant acquaintance, I realize that I need to come back to a place of recognition. Eventually knowing that if I do the right things with my spare time, they’ll lead me to a sense of, “There you are old friend; I’ve missed you.” In his famous poem “To a Stranger,” (which we no doubt become to ourselves at times) Walt Whitman once said, “I am to see to it that I do not lose you.” And while he may not have been speaking of himself, why is the losing of “you” any less significant than the relationship of someone else?
While it’s rare for me to be truly alone, I can’t deny that when I have these pockets of time all to myself I enjoy it. The truth is — I like my company — when I’m being the real me, that is. If I’m being honest, sometimes the real me is hard to find. She’s a little bit of a lost girl, so caught up in the responsibilities of adult life that I have a hard time coaxing her to come out from behind the to-do list and play.
It is time to free ourselves of “I shouldn’t” and “I don’t have time for” and let the magic of “me” time step in. After crossing a few items off the list, you’ll come to a looking glass moment of wonder. When you see how much fun this lost-girl version of yourself really is, you’ll have a better chance of not “misplacing” her again.
Remember that all it takes is a few stolen moments to sprinkle magic back into our days and remind us that wonder and whimsy are worth our time. Welcome back, dear one. Stay found.
Elle Harris is a believer of impossible things. She is a lover of words, wonder, and the whimsical delights of everyday living. Caught in the creative place between reality and imagination is her favorite place to be. Please join Elle in pursuing life with intention, and grand conversation on her blog thisquotablelife.wordpress.com. Find Elle on Instagram and Twitter @ElleHarris82.
Great reminders!
Excellent tips to regain yourself! Thank you so much, I do some, but some are new ideas that definitely will be utilized very soon.
Lovelies! I am so happy that this was a happy reminder of what we need to do for ourselves once in awhile to keep joy alive! Make sure to tweet me a pic of your adventures in everyday magic!
Enchanting ideas Elle. I like to change items
(treasures of mine) around in my home, so that I look at them more often. Thank you for the suggestion of taking a tour of my home.
I like my company too, tee hee!
Wow this was such a beautiful post! Absolute loved every word. I felt as though I was drawn into every moment in each example given and it made me desire to search for those magical moments in my life. Thank you much Elle and Bella Grace Magazine, this was all so beautiful. And Ella you are an incredible writer. Keep it up girl. So inspiring.
Gina! Thank you! Your words are just the sort that inspire me to carry on with pen to page once more!
Elle Harris
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