Life gets crazy and even the regular days seem to be full of tasks that demand of my time. When we finally have a calm, quiet day it can really throw me off kilter. It would seem that I could just sit down and relax but instead I find myself looking for things to do. When I should be relaxing and recharging my batteries, I find myself doing busy work fixing things that don’t really matter. I have a very difficult time shutting off that piece of me that is constantly on.

What does work is to get in the car with my husband and take a drive. We’re still doing something, but it doesn’t require much effort. We may go out for lunch or coffee, just take a break from life at home. If going out doesn’t appeal, I can escape into a good book. I can be present with my husband and still be mentally in an exotic location trying to figure out what is coming next. He also enjoys reading so it’s something we can actually do together. It’s especially nice when I build a fire in our fireplace and add a hot cup of tea to the experience.

It isn’t easy to switch my mindset from constant caregiver to loving partner. Even on the quietest of days there are things that need to be done that pull me back into that role. Deep breathing, gentle self massage, and a reality check remind me that everything is okay. I can shut it down, let go, take a break and the world will not come crashing down around us. Life may be busier tomorrow, for today I must simply be in the moment and know that even in the stillness life is all right.