Reducing Holiday Stress - Slow Down

A friend, Karl, visited this week, to have lunch and help with a computer question. He is a young man, probably mid-20's, and very bright. He took care of the computer straightaway, and then we enjoyed a burger from PoPo's.

After lunch, we sat around and talked for about 3 hours. That isn't remarkable for many people, but it was a very big deal to me. Here is why:

1. I realized that I don't take the time to sit around and chat very often
2. I am not very good at sitting around and chatting, so I was stretching myself to singletask.
3. I was impressed that he was able and willing to spend time getting to know people he did not really know
4. He wasn't in a rush to get someplace else

It was a real treat - and a learning experience for me. One of my holiday goals is to be more present, more mindful, less frenetic.

I am actually closing my office for a week - actually more than a week - and I will have lots of time to practice being present, here, with my family and friends.

Cynthia

*************
Cynthia McKenna Counseling
CounselingBlog

Comments

[Pop Art Diva aka Terri]

I love to sit around and chat so I do it more often than you, but your post made me realize that I often neglect this simple human pleasure because I'm so bloody driven.
I do take time out to have martinis with friends but I can excuse that because I have a martini blog (it's Business so it's okay!)
Do you sometimes yearn for the mid morning coffee break with a neighbor?