do you indulge in self-indulgence?

by Sharon Santoni

woman in front of eiffel tower

We all get busy – right? ….  We all have moments when we look at our diary and think “Oh boy, I don’t know how all of  this is going to fit into one day?!”

Well the late summer, early fall has been a bit like that here.  And it’s got me thinking about how I pace myself and use my time.  And whether I want to create a little more me-time … or whether the truth is that I just love to be busy.

Because here I am, in my first few months as an empty nester, meant to be enjoying all that extra time and freedom of movement that I have heard so much about ?! …. and , well, euh, remind me!

Fall is pretty lively here, with my brocante tour, with clients in and out, this year promoting the book … and then of course there is family because even though the children’s bedrooms each stand empty now I am still lucky enough to be needed by my kids,  and by my Mum who I like to spend a few days with each month.

Oh yes, then there are the dogs that want to walk, the horses that need to be fed, a garden to maintain and a little thing called this blog which seems even more demanding than everything else put together!  So before you know it, the day has gone, and the week and the months and the year.

Of course our new ’empty nest’ status has instilled a different rhythm.  No more early morning school runs, no more ferrying kids to parties or concerts or late nights out.  And as a couple we are finding our feet again, and rediscovering how we want to use our work and play time.  There is a pleasant gentleness to recreating a life ‘à deux’.

But after so many years having my time carefully laid out in pre-allotted slots, I have been surprised at how much adjustment is required.     In an ideal world, as well as work and family commitments,  I want to  exercise, to be sociable, to be creative and dare I say it? … I want to be a little self- indulgent.

My self-indulgence is nothing fancy …. it could be an afternoon painting;   a lunch with a girlfriend;  a manicure; a ride in the forest … or it could simply be an extra hour or two in bed in the morning with a cup of tea and a good book!

So of course I am wondering how you work out your time, and whether you treat yourself to something special now and again? … do you think that in today’s busy world, each  generation has a longer list of commitments and obligations?  …. is it true that with changing social patterns we are the generation that is caught both caring for young adult  children and older parents? ….  Or is it simply that we  bow to pier pressure and try to do too much?!

Over to you, I’d love to hear whether you govern your time, or you feel governed?  And how you self-indulge?

43 comments

Cheryl Sharpcom October 22, 2015 - 4:48 pm

We Do What We Want To Do. You Can Always Make Time For What You cherish.

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Janice@Curtains In My Tree October 22, 2015 - 5:35 pm

Oh at first I was so sad to be an empty nester however I finally adjusted and got my groove back and I keep busy working part time, trying to keep my house work kept up, vising a 100 year old man once a week, church, I go visit my younger grand kids in a city about 35 miles away.
I always hit a good vintage sale when I can. I still cook for myself almost everyday.
It takes times this didn’t happen right away. After my daughter left then my husband died and I was really lost, then my precious little dog died. Sorry not wanting pity just saying this is life and we have to adjust, which I finally did. But it takes time

I started a blog to entertain myself and it really helped, I made me a white studio in my basement and I create and play there a lot

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Lindsay October 22, 2015 - 6:20 pm

Love this idea. thank you for the inspiration

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Gwen Owen October 23, 2015 - 2:33 am

We “girls” are great!! ❤️

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carla October 22, 2015 - 5:35 pm

HI Sharon, lovely piece, lovely words and thoughts and must be so hard to break a life-time routine. Indulgence for me is all about time, not rushing anywhere, lying in bed or having a nap on the weekend. xx

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Dana Veach October 22, 2015 - 5:42 pm

This is the best blog I’ve read from you in my relatively short sojourn on your lovely site. Thank you for calling our “hurry sickness” to mind. We all suffer from it. The “creatives” among us, I think, have a particularly hard time slowing down because we just see so many possibilities for beauty and creative “improvement” of our world! Perhaps we should take a cue from the ultimate “Creative Mind,” God Himself, Who established the principle of “rest” and set us an example by taking a “day off” after His own work of creation. And though “work” was instituted before the fall of man in the Garden, He still commanded rest for His creatures…and the earth itself, knowing that we can’t hold up before the onslaught of constant stress and labor…even that which we find enjoyable and fulfilling!

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Jean C October 23, 2015 - 4:58 am

Amen. He wants to spend time with us, His children too..

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Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon October 22, 2015 - 5:51 pm

My Mother used to tell me that “my time would come” and I feel it finally has. I love being an empty nester. Every minute feels like an indulgence. I have noticed when people find out that I am retired and an empty nester they seem to not value my time. I have had to school them in the most gentle way that I consider my time more valuable than ever before. I hope you will adjust quickly and enjoy ever minute, and give yourself “bouquets” for raising wonderful children, and being the best daughter you can be.

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Carolyn October 22, 2015 - 5:51 pm

Dana, so beautifully said!

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Kelly Dodson October 22, 2015 - 6:05 pm

My work (paying job) is very busy and very non-creative so my main self-indulgence is going home and letting my creative self do whatever it wants! Could be reading, could be making/designing jewelry, throwing pots or drawing. Another self-indulgence I have is watching favorite movies/shows that I have on DVD. I’ve watched some so many times I’ve had to buy new copies of them. Of course, adding some very good wine to either indulgence makes them even better!

Laissez votre créativité muse exécuter gratuitement!

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Amy Marie October 22, 2015 - 6:07 pm

That is a lovely old photograph! 🙂 I can’t imagine being an empty-nester yet, but I can imagine how different and in a way strange, that will be. I have many years of raising children ahead of me still, but I very much have to guard my time and prioritize what is important. For me, that’s my faith, family, and a few friends. I can’t do that when I’m a mess, so I do need to take the time to read, think, sip coffee, and take care of my body by sleeping, eating well, and moving…those are hard for me though. My husband and I are pretty good about guarding our family rhythm to our days, because we knew it would be hard to cultivate a love of learning, good books, and relationships if we were always running to this, that, and the other thing. It will be interesting to see how this plays out now that we have pre-teenagers and young ones…and as they slowly leave the nest. Thank you for this neat post, it gave me things to think on! 🙂

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Karena October 22, 2015 - 6:17 pm

Sharon I am very much loving this chapter of my life!
It feels like anything is possible and that I never know what is right around the corner! I wish you would come to the US for a book signing. Tish Jett was here in Kansas City yesterday at Nell Hills!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Autumn Artistry!

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Sharon Santoni October 23, 2015 - 10:37 am

Thank you Karena, I’d love to do a book tour, we’ll see if it comes together next year. I hope you managed to meet Tish, I heard the signing in Kansas City was a great success!

Sharon

x

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Lory at Designthusiasm October 22, 2015 - 6:25 pm

Oh, how I loved this post! I, too, am a recent empty nester and I, too, find I’m busier than ever. I stopped “working” a few years back and started blogging thinking it would simply be a creative outlet, but the desire to grow it into something I’m proud of had made it an enormous consumer of my time. That said, I could not live without a creative outlet and I really do enjoy the highs it provides. Like all things, you have to take the good with the bad.

For me though, being self-indulgent is a must. I must travel. I must shop. I must socialize. I find the small pleasures to be among the greatest joys in life (all the better, of course, if shared with loved ones). Sometimes, however, I laugh at how I fit these indulgences into my day. There’s something uniquely amusing about scheduling a massage in order to relax and then rushing there in a panic to be on time, because you’ve squeezed it between your other appointments.

But the way I look at it… it’s better than not having the massage at all… 🙂

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Our French Oasis October 22, 2015 - 6:26 pm

I am a total believer in busy busy busy, it keeps us young, it keeps us active and it keeps us alive! Despite the time consuming life with five children, endless pets, work, a blog, a huge garden, a guest cottage and a very old farmhouse, I still find myself hating time off. My hairdresser laughs at me, she has got to know me well, I am not the lady who enjoys sitting for hours on end enjoying the peace and solitude and “me time”, no I am the one who always says I am in a rush, the one who only has time for half a head of highlights instead of a whole, the one who always sits there thinking of all the things I could be doing instead of sitting being pampered! So far though, it’s worked for me and I have a feeling you are very much the same!!!

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Sharon Santoni October 23, 2015 - 10:39 am

Hi Susan

Thanks for reassuring me about that one … I’m also always in a hurry at the hairdressers, and half the time I arrive with stuff to do while I sit there!

xx

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bonnie groves poppe October 22, 2015 - 6:48 pm

Wonderful evocative image, I want to stand there in stylish clothes at what I think are the doors to the Chaillot Palace, and gaze at the Eiffel Tower. I (by choice) did not have children, so I am not an empty nester, but am retired and on my own so have all of that freedom etc. But …. I love being busy! Gardening, working on my house, painting furniture, sewing something, visiting with friends. I have no trouble amusing myself! My latest project is that I’m leaving the Languedoc and a friend and I have bought the “corps” of an old farm in Provence, 1.3 hectares, and are creating a couple of houses, plus gites, and are planning a hospitality business. I will be heading over there in December, and its an exciting project. And if you knew how old I was you would think I was quite mad!

Enjoy your newfound leisure, but don’t be too leisurely!

bonnie soon to be in the Vaucluse

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Sharon Santoni October 23, 2015 - 10:40 am

Conratulations Bonnie, sounds like you have a very exciting project on yourhands!

Bon courage!

x

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Colleen Taylor October 22, 2015 - 7:44 pm

Oh Sharon, I’ve worked on trying to balance my time but unfortunately after all these years, I still have excelled at it. I’m a workaholic & I do love what I do, however, I want & need more time for myself. I love being creative & busy & I actually enjoy it, however, to a fault. I do take some time for “me time” but not enough. I’m still trying to figure it all out. Somebody give me the magic wand to make it happen!

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Vicky from Athens October 22, 2015 - 9:28 pm

Hi Sharon . . . oh yes, I am self-indulgent and have been for many years. Long before our nest was empty I started taking time for myself. With all of the madness of sports, cheerleading, dating, dancing, volunteering, etc . . . I found a way to stay sane. If one doesn’t nourish one’s own soul, one may not be able to be there for anyone else. I took up backpacking with some girlfriends! Periodically we’d get out our packs and head for the mountains for several days. After some time and many miles on the trail it was easy to come home and get back in the rat race! Feeling very refreshed!! There’s hardly anything more spiritual than sitting in front of my tent on a mountain top with my cup of coffee watching the sun rise . . . or the sun set. You are reminded of who is really in charge and it helps to straighten out priorities. It’s very cleansing. Several girlfriends whom I’ve introduced to backpacking have told me that those trips have probably saved their marriages. Self-indulgence can have some very positive results that spill over to the rest of family and friends.

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Sharon Santoni October 23, 2015 - 10:42 am

This is a lovely image Vicky, thank you for sharing that with us. I also love to walk with friends, but I admit I’ve never yet done the whole backpack/hike thing …. maybe I should get some new boots! 🙂

xx

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Anne HH October 22, 2015 - 9:30 pm

LOVE being an empty nester!! Adored raising our three wonderful children!! Love life!! Think my husband is still great after 35 years!! However, am stunned by how little relaxation I build into my day now that the huge responsibilities of child rearing are largely over. I have concluded I must love being busy, especially doing things that had to be deferred in favor of meeting the rest of the family’s needs. I am a very big proponent of owning your life choices and making sure they are happy ones!

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Victoria Savu October 22, 2015 - 9:40 pm

I am retired ,married and an empty nester and busier than ever. I love everything that life has to offer, I love my life and I love being busy. But sometimes I realized that I have pushed myself too hard and have to take time for myself. Therefore today at 2 in the afternoon I took a nap then at 3 in the afternoon I took a bubble bath and listen to new age music while I read your blog. So relaxed. Now I’m going to go make pumpkin sugar cookies. Thank you for a beautiful blog.

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suzana rose borlovan October 22, 2015 - 11:22 pm

At 49 years young and after our youngest daughter left 3 years ago, I cried for a whole month, don’t misunderstand, I work full time as a critical care nurse, highly stressful and emotionally draining yet satisfying position but I was lost. My husband of 30 years couldn’t understand my empty feeling. It was the unknown that scared and worried me, what if our marriage was all about the children that we devoted so much time and energy in, what if after their departure there was nothing left of us? All these worries circled in my mind over and over again. I can honestly say that all the worry was not needed as hubby and I are closer than ever and getting to know each other as a couple again and not just parents is something else. Now my self indulgence is gardening, although I have always had my hands in the dirt (time permitting) between shift work. I can now say that any waking moment I am out in my garden, tending and weeding and just enjoying it, worst mistake that I make is to take my hot cup of coffee out with me to “look” at the garden, seems that hours later I am in the dirt again and the hot coffee often turns cold and forgotten. Pure indulgence. xxx

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Sharon Santoni October 23, 2015 - 10:44 am

I can totally relate to all the above Suzanna, I also had a tearful few weeks as my youngest was finishing high school. That is all behind me now and it is good to feel that things happen in the right order

My garden is a magnet to me too!

xx

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Lois Flietstra October 23, 2015 - 6:33 pm

Oh, how that happens to me!! Especially on Sunday morning. I take a lovely hot cup of coffee to view the garden ” for a moment”, but end up with dirty hands, a pile of trimmings, cold coffee, and late for church!!! The beauty of the garden colors and touching the earth/plants feeds my soul!

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Carolyn Rose October 23, 2015 - 12:11 am

After many years of volunteering at various schools and church events (which I loved) and now finding myself an almost empty nester I’ve been reevaluating my free time as well Sharon. What will the next chapter hold? I lost a dear cousin two weeks ago and now my husband’s cousin just passed away – both quite young. It has reinforced my wish to keep myself in great physical shape, to cherish every moment of this beautiful life, and to relish the simple things. My husband and I are “dating” again and realizing how much fun we have together. I also love spending time with my spunky 92 year old aunt – my role model for healthy longevity. Turning my black thumb into a green one and, of course, cooking delicious food for my loved ones. Reading, reading, reading!!!! Carpe Diem!!!!

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Marion Stamp October 23, 2015 - 12:19 am

I remember when my eldest went off to college. I cried the entire day as I knew when he returned he would not be the same. When he finished college he would want an apartment, etc. Normal and correct. This year I really became an empty nester–my husband died. Now I am really on my own–well the dog is my buddy. Life hands us challenges and it is how we rise to those challenges that makes us what we are. i am best with a “project” so I am redecorating my entire house. Now, I live, not in France, but in Mexico. I can’t find lovely old embroidered linens and go on brocante tours. The options are either to have an item (small, like linens) shipped, have it custom-made or be creative. Redecorating can be a real challenge when you are in a country different than where you were born and know where everything is or you can look it up in the yellow pages.
I’ve lived in Mexico many years and it is a beautiful place with a fabulously interesting and colorful history. Many flowers grow all year and the climate is kind so, even though it can get quite cold in the winter (here in the mountains), it doesn’t cause
all the plants to die Consequently, we have flowers all year. Also, the economy here permits me to have a wonderful maid and a gardener who fills in as chauffeur as this town was built for horses and burros so parking is not easy.
When I read your blog I can’t help but be reminded of myself being here as there are many similarities. Self indulgence is great but rare. Recently I was in Houston, Texas, to have a minor operation and took an entire day for shopping and eating in great restaurants. Enjoyed every single minute. Probably the best thing is that I realized I could handle things while being alone.

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Marilyn October 23, 2015 - 3:58 am

It took me about a year to adjust once I retired and no longer had kids in the house. Pretty much I do what I want, but I put alot on expectations on myself. The thing I find most difficult is getting to the gym 3 days a week and walking, which is so very important. Yes, blogging does take my time too.

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Cindi brumpton October 23, 2015 - 4:17 am

i think we build our lives. Hopefully we r building what we want. I am an introvert and my time is spent slowly pursuing my interests and being. I love a two fisted coffee morning. Watching the leaves change. Being.

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pamela October 23, 2015 - 7:21 am

Hello Sharon, I have been busy with school. Reading the blog today has been so great,
because I have been a single mom. Now that my youngest is in school and working, I can say its been adjustment. But it has been also enjoyable , switching to not having to make a sit down dinner, or spending the afternoon on the weekend shopping and not worrying about who’s where and what needs to be bought for their last minute projects. So I went back to school ,started reading blogs 🙂 and work part time. Thanks for the enjoyable and encouraging post, as we are all close to same type of time in our lives . Where we are missing the noisy house at times, but then we are so glad we don’t have to get up early and make sure our kiddo’s have lunch money and that are on time for school. To find out we will miss all that busyness and its ok. Its nice to be able to slow down a little and not rush around all the time.

Have a great day.

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Denise October 23, 2015 - 8:44 am

I didn’t used to indulge in self-indulgence, but I think I will now. For the last 7 years, my sister and I have taken care of our elderly mother, who has dementia. Mom never wanted my sister or I and has let us know repeatedly that we weren’t wanted, but we took good care of her nonetheless. Even before she got dementia, she constantly belittled us, expected us to do everything for her and told us how stupid and useless we are. I got laid off about a year and a half ago and have had a heck of a time finding work, in spite of constant effort. I’m about to lose my house, the only thing I’ve ever wanted and have sacrificed everything for (no car, vacations, nice clothes, dinners out, drinks with friends, coffees at Starbucks, etc.). I have severe arthritis and, in spite of recent surgery, am unable to walk. Today I got a phone call from my boyfriend who told me he wouldn’t be able to see me any more because he’s met someone new and was taking a cruise to Mexico net week. Unlike me, she’s able to travel, isn’t saddled with the responsibility for an elderly mother and can do things like go hiking and kayaking and golfing. How can I compete with that? Several people have said “Oh, you’ll meet someone else.” But, frankly, it’s highly unlikely, because there’s little, if any, demand for average-looking, overweight, 61-year-old-women who have to take care of elderly family members and are unable to walk, let alone take part in fun activities. So I think I’m going to spend less time worrying about whether the people in my life are happy and a little bit more time worrying about whether I’m happy. It will be a major adjustment, because I’m the kind of person who is a people-pleaser. But I need to worry about myself for a change.

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Sharon Santoni October 23, 2015 - 10:48 am

Oh Denise, I am so sorry to hear that your mother showed so little gratitude or recognition for all that did for her, or for the person you have become. That is very hurtful.
Maybe as you start indulging yourself a little more, you’ll make new aquantiances and a whole new chapter in your life will open up to be discovered.
I wish you new joy

Sharon
x

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The Enchanted Home October 23, 2015 - 12:27 pm

A very good topic, one near and dear to my heart. Having become an empty nester myself way younger than I would have liked:) I too had to readjust. Its mostly about work these days which I love so it doesn’t really feel like work but i always allot one day a week for what I call my “me days”. I do whatever I want, normally its going off on a day excursion with a friend to NYC or CT. or the beach in the summer months.

This week we went to wine country and had a blast visiting pumpkin patches and a vineyard. It always allows me to fully disconnect and recharge and approach my every day commitments with a new found vigor. As my husband so wisely always reminds me…a good life is always about balance and it is different for everyone. For me one full day a week is perfect. I love your ideas of down time too…….have a great day Sharon!

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LA CONTESSA October 23, 2015 - 4:46 pm

Just in these last two years I realize I cannot accomplish all that I need to in a day!
I find it a REALITY check.
I am slowing down faster then I want to be.
But I do take time EVERY DAY for me.Be it an extra coffee or walk S L O W L Y to the chicken coop and do not worry if that PHONE rings and you miss the call because of it!!!
Yesterday I was at the FALL ANTIQUE show in the city…….listening to ANDREW PRINCE talk about his jewels for DOWNTOWN ABBEY!The girl behind me tapped me and said I like your earrings……….she had on a PAIR TOO!!!
YOUR body will tell you when you cannot move at the PACE of which YOU describe today…………SO ENJOY IT! Is my two cents!
XX

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Mary Alvarez October 23, 2015 - 6:40 pm

Sharon,

Totally loved what you had to say! Self indulgence for me is my “alone-time”. When no one is asking me for anything and I’m doing what “I” want to do. Reading, in the kitchen creating a dinner or baking a new recipe. Crafting, reading a book from front to back and no interruptions. Hanging with my dogs sitting on the back porch just taking in nature. I have been an empty nester for awhile now but that didn’t mean that I slowed down. I still work part-time and have a home and husband who I share my time with. I do however love, love, love my alone time!

Hugs!

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Shell Parsons October 24, 2015 - 5:57 am

Another great post Sharon. First may I say how much I love your blog and really enjoyed your summer short story<3 Whilst both of my girls, 14 and 18, are both still technically living at home, my eldest has just started a full time apprenticeship as a pastry chef and our home routine has totally changed as a result. She's no longer here a lot of the week for dinner (due to shift work) and sometimes stays over at a friend's house in the city when she has a late/early shift. I am glad my beautiful caterpillar has morphed into a divine butterfly but it is a little hard to let go at times. It reminds me that one day, in the not too distant future, that is will just be my husband and me again. So often when busy with kids, you pass like ships in the night, tending to all the necessities of life, but somewhere along the way you lose the essence of you both as a couple. Your phrase "There is a pleasant gentleness to recreating a life ‘à deux" makes it sound like a wonderful new phase, to be looked forward to. Thank you for that.

It is only recently that I have stopped and made time for myself again. Although my girls are teenagers, they still need me a lot, and juggling that with the demands of an 89 year old father with Alzheimers, who still lives in his own home, finally took its toll. I felt beyond empty and knew that if I didn't stop and fill myself up again, I would have nothing to give anyone.

So I enrolled in a weekend writing course which runs next weekend (I'm hoping it will help with the progression of my first novel) and yesterday I went to the Mind Body Spirit festival in Sydney (which has been on my list for some time but I was always 'too busy'). I had a million things I could have/should have done yesterday but I said 'forget it! It's time to do something for ME!'

Life goes by at a frenetic pace. I remember my childhood where days seemed to last forever but sadly, even my girls complain about how fast the year has gone. How have we all gotten so busy that we are missing the day to day moments in our lives? I remember reading Carl Honore's book In Praise of Slow many years ago and whilst it touched me deeply, I have yet to perfect a way to slow my life down. Practicing mindfulness and meditation are helping but sometimes I struggle to find the time for that amidst the busyness, although ironically, I know that meditating is just what is actually needed in that moment. Shell.x

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Susan October 24, 2015 - 3:27 pm

Coincidentally a friend of mine posted this on FB yesterday, “Stop The Glorification of Being Busy”. I had to laugh because she is absolutely the busiest person I have ever met. Busy in a chaotic/get a lot done sort of way. She rushes here there and everywhere. While I adore her and love her energy she very much has a nervous energy about her. I too am an empty nester (although one recently returned to the nest) and keep myself very busy, but my busy is very different from the busy-ness of my friends. I have 5 acres, 2 horses, 12 chickens, 3 dogs, multiple perennial beds and I am starting a farmer/florist business (on a cutting garden scale). I maintain the entire 5 acres trying to keep all of mothers natures whims under some level of control. I have had my friend out here twice recently hoping that she could come out, enjoy the quiet and relax with some decompression time. Nope! She brought her nervous energy with her and had to leave as soon as she got here! It struck me that there is no room here for “nervous energy”, it simply doesn’t fit. My busy is the type of busy where at the end of the day I can actually “see” what has been done and I feel as though I have really accomplished something. I am fortunate to be busy doing what I love doing. Do I self indulge? I think some would say that is exactly what I do most of the time. Maybe, maybe not. I do know that I am very tired at the end of the day and if the list of outside “to do’s” is checked off, I am content.

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Iris October 25, 2015 - 2:27 am

Down time! What does that truly mean. I have been an empty nester for many years and had quite a bit of spare time. I went back to finish a post graduate degree and spent countless hours in my garden. I must say those times were very fullfilling. My garden continues to be one of my most time consuming passions. I too have taken a cup of tea outside to peruse my garden only to be found by my husband hours later wrist deep in soil totally oblivious to the time that has passed. Now with grandchildren visiting regulary I do notice I have lost some of my “me” time but I’m not complaining. I have learnt to be a bit more selfish. Sometimes we need to make it about us because nobody else will.

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Gundy October 25, 2015 - 9:49 pm

I found your blog via Pinterest and became enchanted with your pictures and style of writing. I’m a naturalized citizen since I’ve been 12 yrs old and still embrace the old world European ways of style, cuisine and living. French I am not. It doesn’t matter though, right? We all want to be French or Irish or . . .
Since I work at a Level One Trauma hospital I NEED to self-indulge. Mostly I love a quiet reading session; I shop too much; I dwell on planning work or personal dinner party events; and I like to nap with my kitty Cozette (Cozee).
You call it self-indulgence, I call it survival skills.

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Lyn October 25, 2015 - 11:17 pm

Hi Sharon, I really enjoy reading your blog and today’s his a chord with me. I have been an empty nester for more than 20 years now but this year I retired in June after 40 years of full-time work. I am really enjoying retirement but am a bit at sixes and sevens with getting a bit of structure in my days. I am doing a sewing refresher course (loving it), I’ve been on a 12-day whirlwind Tour in Europe (great fun) and now I am working on putting a book together, I’m doing much more gardening and have some lovely spring flowers for the first time (not that we have much Spring in Queensland) and trying to get back into my art which has been on the back burner for many years. I am also able to go to my grand-children’s school events and spend more time with them (fabulous).

So maybe my life at the moment is self indulgent!!!

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Penelope October 26, 2015 - 2:59 am

Sharon, I have been an empty nester a few times, then all the children after graduating from university all came home one at a time for a period to live again. Now we are empty again but they still come and with the children and with full lives and lots of fun! These years have been such a blessing, filled with a little extra time for travel to places we only dreamed of and also do making time for friends in our home for visits! This is my idea of self indulgence….having people come into my life to learn, laugh and love! Life is always changing but full and rich. I love your beautiful blog and your lovely book, which graces my French Room.

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Karena October 29, 2015 - 6:00 pm

Sharon, yes I met Tish, we only had a few moments to talk as she was so busy signing books ( including mine) and the line was very long!! She is wonderful, Nell Hills, Mary Carol Garrity’s shop would be the perfect venue for you to have a book signing!!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena

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