My best girl Nat once took a class where her professor posed this simple question: What would your perfect day be like? Where would you go? What would you do? Who would you be with? What would you eat? What would you smell? What would you see?
People said things like: go to the beach, sleep in, go on a hike, snuggle with my kids, meditate in the morning, be in nature, eat a big meal with friends and family, read a book. There were a lot of answers, but none of them were terribly extravagant. In fact, almost everyone’s answers involved simple everyday activities. So he then asked, “How many of you have done any of the activities that you just described today?” No one raised their hands.
“Why not?” he asked.
People said that they had to work or that they didn’t have enough time. He asked, “How much time would it take to read your book or to meditate in the morning?” People gave ranges of time, but some were as short as 15 to 30 minutes.
The point he was trying to make was that so many of us have these simple things we could do that would make us happy — would culminate in a perfect day even — that we never seem to get around to. So why don’t we try to do them more?
I know I have a lot of days where I feel like I’m rushing from one thing to the next and feel like I have absolutely no time for things on my “perfect day” list. I’ll get to bed later than I’d like and spend the rest of the week feeling like I’m playing a losing game of catch-up. I hate feeling so frazzled and am always looking for balance. I just read this really great article about the power of doing less. The author says, “But do what you do with complete and hard focus. Then when you’re done be done, and go enjoy the rest of the day.” Doesn’t that sound like a great idea? I’m going to give it a try and see if I can squeeze in more time for walks, reading, and chats with friends and family.
What would your perfect day be like?
(top image by Sunday Photo, bottom image via i don’t bite)
What would your perfect day be like? You didn't answer the question. 🙂
I think mine would look like this:
-wake up without the alarm (this actually happens most days) and not have to go to work!
-go to breakfast at one of my favorite spots like bld or The Griddle
-go on a hike or walk somewhere in nature.
-read a good book while curled up on the couch with my cats
-take a nap
-meet up with friends or family for dinner
-see one of my favorite musicians perform live in an intimate setting
Ahh, sounds nice!
Your perfect day sounds a lot like mine 🙂 I'd try to add a few more hours into the day if I could really make it perfect and sleep in. Ooh, and after dinner, I'd like to watch a really good movie. Such simple things!
Your posts are so interesting Sobrina. When I think of my perfect day, I always include many things I've already experienced…the hike in the woods with my husband, cooking a nice meal together, the day we spent exploring in the Val d'Orcia several years ago. Some of those things can be done any day, some are reserved only for special times. I try to include the everyday ones as much as possible!!!