For the first weekend in a while, we don’t have any plans. This tends to make my husband very nervous: what if everyone starts going crazy from just being home with nothing to do?! And I can’t help but feel that we’re wasting time we could be spending making memories, doing something, going somewhere…
But this weekend, I’m feeling surprisingly zen about it. It’s been a whirlwind since school ended back in May. By switching schools, we ended up having a 3-month summer break. And, boy, have we squeezed every bit out of this time. It’s really been a fun and eventful summer. And I’m beyond grateful for everything we’ve experienced. But with that comes constant packing and unpacking, birthday parties, camps, playdates, family travel, solo travel, and visits with family and friends that have left us all exhausted.
As I type this, my son is napping on the couch, snuggled up to his sister who’s watching Peter Pan. Seeing them rest together warms my heart, thinking how one is lost in dreams and the other in Neverland. My husband is happily putzing around with the laundry, a sight that’s both endearing and slightly terrifying for me. I don’t know if the whites will stay white or if the colors will run, but today, we’re going with the flow, and I’m choosing to let it be.
So, as the weekend starts with no plans on the horizon, I’m feeling pleasantly full and content. This is unusual for me. I’m normally not great at doing nothing, at being still. I’m the one who plans the outings and organizes the weekend getaways. I like to move, go somewhere, do something, and make the most of every moment.
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But today, I’m finding a certain mental unburdening with having nowhere to be.
This made me think about JOMO, the JOY of missing out. There’s something liberating about slowing down and embracing the idea that it’s okay to not be everywhere and not do everything. As it turns out, sometimes the best thing we can do is nothing at all. And it’s really not about laziness or a lack of ambition. It’s about recognizing that constant motion isn’t always necessary and that there’s value in allowing ourselves to rest.
As I sit here, my body feels relaxed and my mind feels calm. I know there are a hundred things happening out there, but I’m not worried about what we’re missing.
Instead, I’m savoring the stillness, the quiet, the simple pleasure of being home with my family.
This makes me think about the passage from Ecclesiastes 3 where God tells us that there’s a time and a season for everything: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance… And in the context of this weekend, a time to be busy and a time to be still.
This leads me to question whether busyness is overvalued in our society. We’re constantly encouraged to do more, to achieve more, to be more. But this may be how we lose sight of the fact that there’s value in rest and that, in reality, rest isn’t just a luxury but a necessity.
Being still isn’t a waste of time; it’s a way to recharge and reconnect with ourselves and with the people we love.
This weekend, we’re rejoicing in the stillness. We’re giving ourselves permission to slow down, to step back from the whirlwind, and to simply be. And in doing so, we’re finding a different kind of joy that comes not from doing, but from being. This is a lesson I intend to carry with me beyond this weekend.
Don’t get me wrong, we’re still going to do. As a family, we enjoy experiencing things and places together. But I’ll make it a point to remember that it’s OK to decline invitations, to miss out on what others are doing, to stay home and be. I’ll make it a point to remember that it’s OK to embrace the quiet moments that are so often overshadowed by the noise of life.
So here we are, choosing JOMO and sinking into the art of doing nothing. Who knew that a weekend with no plans could be so full of… well, exactly what we needed? As I sit back and let this calm wash over us, I’m reminded that sometimes the best memories aren’t made in the hustle but in the quiet moments in between. I’m reminded that there truly is a time for everything, and right now, it’s time to be still.
After all, if those whites do come out pink, at least we’ll have a laugh, and isn’t that what weekends are really for?
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