Educating Risa

Today was a very productive day. Jim and I sorted through the laundry room, where TONS OF STUFF we no longer wanted or needed was waiting. We sorted it into bins for Goodwill (charity) and Sprouts (to sell at a consignment store). 5 big Rubbermaid bins and 3 bankers boxes later—to say nothing of the stuff we just chucked in the garbage after looking at it more closely—I am THRILLED! I have a functioning laundry room again! Jim also did a ton of cleaning (both bathrooms, which had passed skanky weeks ago) while I did some healthy home cooking, took Daegan to his cartooning class, and a quick errand at the bank. 

Anyways, this is a precursor to the main point of this blogpost. I’ve been doing quite a bit of thinking about things and have decided not to blog on Sundays anymore (see you Monday!), as I will be spending my time elsewhere. After ranting at the family a few weeks ago (I was running myself ragged, the house was a disaster, etc.) I started reading about the idea of the Sabbath—both religious and non-religious materials—and came across this Sabbath Manifesto. It so impressed me that I am formulating a slightly adapted 10 principles to guide my day of rest:

1 – Avoid Technology of escape, distraction, or isolation (also see 2 below)

 

2 – Connect with Loved Ones (since many of my relatives and friends live elsewhere, I often employ technology to catch up with them)

 

3 – Nurture Your Health (eat healthy whole foods, exercise, nap)

 

4 – Get Outside (nature walks, gardening, birding, fly a kite, kick a ball around, bike ride, etc.)

 

5 – Avoid Commerce (I am old enough to remember when stores were closed on Sundays)

 

6 – Plan or Try something new (a nature walk in a new area, a new board game with the family, a new festival or show (like tomorrow we may try the Calgary Rock and Fossil show, which we’ve never been to), listen to new music, make a new dish, etc. This is influenced by Gretchen Rubin of the Happiness Project who has convincingly shown that happiness depends on growth and challenge (trying new things) as well as routine and predictability.

 

7 – Have a leisurely, candle-lit meal with the family

 

8 – Bake Bread (or other baked goods, or cook some comfort food, like soup or a casserole)

 

9 – Find Silence (spent some time alone, meditate, putter among the flowers and birds in the garden)

 

10 – Give Beauty (smile at others, be cheerful for the day, send flowers, tend the garden)

 

Anyone want to join me? What would your Sabbath Manifesto look like?