Taking Care of Me


When Penny Johnson could no longer meet the demands placed on her, she did something about it, because, dammit, she needed to.  Johnny Castle's explanation to those who didn't get it was simple: She's taking a break.  She needs a break. 

That scene from Dirty Dancing - the best movie of all time - has provided me with an often-used mantra. It has been uttered during hours-long hikes (read: chasing BRunn up a mountain), marathon climbing sessions, limited-bathroom-break road trips across the country, and this weekend, for a full-on AJ Day. 

I (reluctantly, at first) accepted what Brian had long been saying.  A break, even a brief one, was both needed and deserved.

Enter a Trader Joe's run, a meal without someone sharing my plate or claiming my lap, some shopping free of a timeline or a list, and a night with a bed - and a room - all to myself.  Oh, and plenty of HGTV! It was great.  I feel great.  Self care is real (as real as mom guilt) and necessary (as necessary as "taking a break"). 

Navigating the uncharted waters of the new school year, hybrid teaching and learning (it's at least double the work and not half of the work), a global health crisis (while pregnant, too), the loss of a dear friend, the passing of RBG - a feminist queen and hero, antiracist and equity work (at school and in my own everyday life), parenting, partnership...life is a lot.  Now more than ever. 

I'm proud of myself for meeting a personal need. I took a break to recharge and reestablish my energy, focus, and goals.  I will return to my world ready to do my best work on all fronts! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Just a Little Evening Adventure

Image
Sometimes you have those days that turn out to be so very different than you expected them to be.  Wednesday was one of those days.  We welcomed houseguest Tuesday evening, and I thought I might do a bit of climbing with them in the morning, but then I expected to return to my typical routine - take a hike/go for a run, do some work and head to the gym for some evening climbing with Brian.  Instead, we decided to solo the Second Flatiron, a six-hundred or so foot climb up one of Boulder's most notable landmarks.     To the best of my recollection, I have not soloed anything before (read: climb without a rope or protection/gear).  The only part that unnerved me, however, was the 'jump.'  This was a point where, along the climb, you are required to leap across a divide in the rocks. I decided the benefits outweighed the cost/risk/fear, and I joined Brian, Alex and Cait, our houseguest, and Josh, another Sconnie native and AdRock climber living the d...
Read more

Stylin' in My New Ride!

Image
Last Friday was an exciting day for me.  Though the new school year was rapidly approaching and my nerves were out of control in anticipation of starting a new school year in a new school with a relatively unfamiliar staff, I happily headed to the car dealership to pick up my new ride, a beautiful white Ford Fusion with all sorts of bells and whistles!   We haven't had a new car in the Runnells family in a few years...and that car quickly became Brian's.  This car, however, is all mine and I LOVE IT!!  A big THANK YOU goes out to my hubbers, who dealt with all the less-than-enjoyable stuff that went along with getting this car  (suffice it to say, our initial car salesman was less than professional and almost drove us to another  dealership).  I think about it each time I get into the car. Doesn't my ALUMNI plate holder look good?!  Want to listen to a little SIRIUS radio?  I'm lovin' making calls via my car Drivi...
Read more

Helping Chelsea and Kyle

Image
Brace yourselves... this is a long one...and I'm asking for your help. As some of you may know, someone very close to me, Chelsea Bullis, experienced a life-changing event on Sunday, June 10, 2012.  She and her boyfriend, Kyle, were in a terrible motorcycle accident that left them both seriously injured.   Chelsea and her family have always been a part of my life. Chelsea's Aunt Anita was my first babysitter, and eventually her grandma, Maureen, and  her mom, Lynn,  took turns taking care of my brother and me.  Chelsea's Aunt Lainey is my mom's very best friend.  Chelsea, her brother Chad, her cousins Sam and Rachael and I all grew up together.  We took summer trips together, and when I was old enough, I began taking care of Chelsea, her brother and her cousins.  Chelsea and her family were so close to me that we began referring to each other as cousins...and 20+ years later, it is still how we refer to one another.   So ...
Read more