season's first dose of Vitamin D

The sun was out all weekend here in Little Rock, AR and it was fabulously almost HOT! 75-80 degrees all weekend long. The wind gusted occasionally, but for the most part, it was just a steady kiss of air that kept me cool.

This is my favorite time of the year. The very first dose of springtime sunshine and that big shot of Vitamin D. The first week of spring weather makes winter worth suffering through. (Not that we have a 'real' winter, but honestly, there is a reason I don't live any further north. Snow should never stay on the ground for more than a minute.)

I started a new book this weekend and I spent most of my time outside, soaking up the sun and creating brand new teenage angst. (I do love playing God with my characters. Such a power trip.) Yesterday I went to Riverfront Park nestled on the banks of the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock. I sat in a chair, listening to Staind and the water lapping the shore, and wrote. It was a great day.
I felt rejuvenated and refreshed. Like my well had just been refilled after a very long drought. I wouldn't do well in areas with no sun for months at a time...I need my vitamin D!

How was your weekend? Do anything special or fun? Did you refill your well?

recharged

Last week, I took a few days off for a little girl time at the lake with two of my friends. We had the best time doing nothing.

I read two books, wrote a lot, had some fun with the wilderness playing Wild Kingdom. (I know, totally before your time, but whatev. It was one of my fave shows growing up.) And I worked on my tan. (Which is magically delicious now, thankyouverymuch. No lectures on tanning. At least I use sunscreen now...as opposed to using Crisco or Baby Oil and Iodine when I as in High School...)

There is a lot to be said for recharging your batteries. I didn't even realize how much I needed the energy boost until I came home. There was a time in my life I never wanted to be alone. Never wanted the world to be quiet around me. Now I crave it sometimes. Does that mean I'm turning into a crotchety old woman?

Surely not.

For me, I spend so much time keeping busy or keeping my kids busy, that I lose track of myself. and I'm just selfish enough to not wanna do that. I'm not one of those people who never puts her needs first--and I think that's part of the reason I'm a pretty darn happy person. It took me a long time to get to this point in my life though.

I think, for girls especially, many of us fall into the people pleasing trap. We want to make everyone happy. We make good grades, we use our manners, we meet expectations (exceeding them usually), we drop everything for friends and family...and then we turn into adults who do the same thing. And we lose ourselves completely.

If you can take some time, (before you're married with children), to learn how to keep yourself mentally happy (and then apply those techniques after you're married with children), then the rest of your life will benefit. Everyone needs to have their batteries recharged. Just don't wait until you feel completely drained, because then it will take more than a couple of days in the woods to make you feel whole again.