“OFF THE RECORD”

How do you normally spend your weekends?

The Google Calendar app is one of my all-time favorite apps. As a former Android user, who recently transitioned to the iPhone, I just couldn’t let go of the Google apps. I use Google Calendar rather than the Apple Calendar. I use Google Chrome rather than Safari. I’m a creature of habit.

But what I love so much about the Google Calendar app is the ability to color-code my events and appointments. Example: everything that is work-related – from court, client meetings, events, I save in my calendar in the color yellow. Everything that is a personal event like a birthday party or writing a blog post is saved in the color purple (my favorite color!). And let me tell you that I put EVERYTHING on my calendar. Even if a friend wants to grab lunch, you would think I would remember because it’s something fun that I love to do, but I don’t want to take the chance of forgetting so out of habit, I save the event in my calendar and color code it.

Let me tell you what brings me even more joy than utilizing my Google Calendar, looking at my Google Calendar and seeing NOTHING scheduled on there! That was the case this past 3-day weekend. Most people who work Monday through Friday look forward to the weekend because it’s their time to do what they want and what makes them happy. But for me, that’s not always the case…

Friday
I got off work and went home and relaxed. And I mean really relaxed! I cooked myself some chicken wings. Watched the movie Eternals. And just relaxed. Sometimes it’s hard for me to fully embrace the nothingness, but I tried really hard on Friday and it was as great start to my long, relaxing weekend!

Saturday
Saturday was a fun but eventful day for me. It was my first Founders’ Day as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated! On January 15, 2022 we celebrated 114 years of sisterhood, service, and excellence! The Iota Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated held a virtual tea party Founders’ Day event. We all dressed up in our pink, green, and pearls. Looked oh so pretty in our tea party dresses and hats. The event was lovely, and we learned a lot about our trailblazing founders and a local, Black owned tea business called Me Plus Tea.

After the tea party event, I watched the parade and Athens’ celebration of the UGA football team winning the National Championship. First time winning the National Championship in over 40 years! Their last win was in 1980! Wow! It was such a great day/week/start of the year in Athens, for sure! I then got cozy on the couch (again), ate some snacks, shared the pride and excitement with my Athens community, and then I took a nap! After my nap, I had another virtual party – I hung out with the lovely ladies I had the opportunity to join this sisterhood with. The 27 of us chatted, laughed, and touched base. I ended the night relaxing some more in my living room. I finally watched the movie Encanto on Disney+. Such a cute and inspiring movie!

Sunday
Sunday morning, I went to church and danced. My pastor spoke a great word on REST (haven’t I been sharing that importance with you all too in the past couple of weeks?!). I took his message to heart and did just that for the remainder of the day! I was originally supposed to enjoy a Reiki Healing Session with some friends. A friend of mine leads Reiki and other meditation practices, and I thought it was a good way to start off the new year with a “fresh start.” Clear out our minds. Release any stress. Remove any burdens on our shoulders. But then it wanted to snow in Georgia! It wasn’t a lot of snow, but when it snows in Georgia, everything shuts down lol. So the Reiki Healing Session had to be postponed and I rested some more and began watching the show The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix.

Monday
I hate to sound like a broken record, but guess what I did most of the day on Monday? Yup, rested! Monday we observed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This is a day where we can honor him and his many great works and leadership. I am blessed to have holidays off from work, so Monday I slept in, went to the gym, straightened up my house a little bit and found myself back on the couch. I finished watching The Queen’s Gambit and FaceTimed with my cousin.

Why did I feel the need to share with you all what I did over the long weekend? Because, it is very unusual that I have nearly 3 days/evenings free to myself. To do whatever I wanted. To sit on the couch and bum out. I do not have somewhere to be or a meeting to attend every evening after work, but often times I do. So when I have a free night off in my calendar, I find great solace in that! And sometimes I have to fight the urge to want to fill that empty time-frame with SOMETHING — grabbing drinks with a friend, going out somewhere, or starting a project. But this past weekend, I allowed my mind, body, and soul to just rest and be present in the current moment.

How often do you do that? Would you like to be able to do that more? Share your thoughts in the comments! Everyone walks a different path in life, and everyone has different things on their plates. Even then, I would still encourage you to find more time in your daily lives to rest and relax. Maybe even schedule a few hours in your day and label them on your calendar “Me Time!” It sounds crazy to have to schedule in that sort of thing, but sometimes you might just have to in order to keep a healthy work/life/obligation balance!

“Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.” Mark 6:30-32, NKJV.

Moni Jay, Off the Record