Empty Days
Episode 018
Script
Welcome to the Plan for Wonder Podcast. I’m Crystal, the talking head, founder, and creator of myLife Planners dot CA.
I was really looking forward to this weekend. I only had social events on my calendar. Between celebrating my husband and I’s twenty-second wedding anniversary and then reconnecting with friends at a park to celebrate career milestones and graduations.
Outside of that, it would be a couple of days open to opportunity. If the weather worked, I was going to spend time in my backyard and enjoy the greenery while I went about the effort to rebuild my raised garden beds. And really, just let the land below my feet lead me to care for and tend to all the life that manages to keep growing around me.
There was also the option to join an online cooking event to prep meals for future summer days when cooking in the heat isn’t really favourable.
Other than that, I had a visual snapshot of my weekend in mind from my myWeek planner. There is joy in seeing a day filled with productivity, but I will say that when I see a blank day, I feel the joy of freedom and opportunity.
Starting next week, the next four episodes of Plan for Wonder will be dedicated to learning about the perceptions and needs of those with ADHD and how the myLife tools can support their unique take on the world. Liz Tizzard is an ADHD social media influencer and mom.
During one of our episodes, Liz pushed back on my suggestion that she didn’t need to pre-date and fill out every day—allowing for those days when you don’t need to use the page because of either a busy out-and-about day, having a free day to juggle what life has thrown at you, or escaping to do nothing. She insisted that her brain benefits from seeing the day, that there is importance to connecting days like dots, and that they don’t get lost in the mix.
And I love that. Every day is filled with moments that matter. Whatever it is you are doing, that moment matters because you do.
It’s this space of freedom and potential, and simply sitting within it helps me feel and explore how I can experience the world directly without obligations, reminders, or responsibilities.
And here it is, a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The sun is peeking through the clouds, the birds are singing, and the green of nature is bursting to come alive. Where am I? Curled up in the guest room bed in our basement with the door closed, the humidifier on high, a heating rice bag on my head to bring me comfort from what seems like a 5-day headache that won’t quit while working through a chest cold, and this might be TMI, learning the importance of a strong pelvic floor, a body that birthed two kids, leads to making sure I tinkle even when I don’t feel it because whatever is sitting inside will be pushed out from full body coughing.
After two days of a lack of sleep and celebrating a marathon graduation day for my youngest kid, I triggered the worst of this chest cold, joining me for my ‘free weekend of joy and opportunity’. So, instead of all my plans, I have found myself focused on healing and rest with Ted Lasso, a lot of OJ and the quiet darkness of the guest bedroom.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel like my weekend was stolen from me. But I am thankful that I had a free weekend to quickly adjust to what I needed. As a self-employed creative, I don’t have the luxury of simply ‘calling in sick’ to the office.
My version of a sick day involves triaging what I have on my plate and managing through what I can, regardless of how sick I am.
So, I am thankful that during the worst of it, I could solely focus on my physical needs.
This makes me realize the importance of blocking time in our calendars for rest and freedom of choice. It gives us a break from outside voices and allows us to listen to our inner ones.
So when I do walk into my office and open myWeek to get a handle on my job of living, I’m not bogged down with stress and decision fatigue. I have a clear head to allow the priorities to rise to the top of my list and then plan accordingly.
And with that, thank you so much for listening. I am so grateful that you have made space for Plan for Wonder in your day.
And to wrap things up, I want to remind you that:
The space you take up in the world matters, not just to me, but even more importantly, you matter the most in your own life.
