Slow Paced Nights Are My Jam
The other day, some coworkers and I were discussing whether we’d rather be at work on a very slow night or at home. I was the only one who said I’d rather be at home. Everyone else said they get bored too easily at home.
I thought about my 16-year-old son, who will be grown and gone much sooner than I’m ready for. I thought about my sweet 8-year-old Chihuahua-Jack Russel mix, who is always happy to see me. I thought about my cats and my son’s dog, who are all adorable in their own ways. I thought about my laptop, from which I’m building the business of my dreams.
Bored at home? No. I’m never bored at home. At home, I’m…home.
Don’t get me wrong. I love a good adventure. I love to travel (when there’s not a global pandemic), and I love to try new things. I enjoy theme parks, the occasional beach, a good walk in the woods, and tasting food I’ve never eaten before.
But even as a teenager, I was the girl who read too many books and loved to write stories about unicorns. I only went to one party in high school, and that was on senior skip day. It was so unusual that I go to a party that more than a couple of my classmates told me not to tell any adults that they were drinking beer. I didn’t drink any of the beer, but I also never planned on telling anyone that they were doing it.
I’ll tell you what, though. After going to that one party, I was pretty well convinced that I hadn’t been missing out on anything the past few years before that. I did end up partying some after high school, but now that I’m in my late thirties, I’m settling into a quieter lifestyle again — minus the shame.
People are social creatures, so someone who prefers hanging out at home with their teenager to riding the clock when there is almost nothing to do at work is considered strange and unusual. I, myself, am strange and unusual- and I’m ok with that. (See what I did there?)
If there’s one piece of wisdom I could impart on you today, it would be to take the time to slow down a little. Be present. Do nothing for five minutes other than watching your cat (or dog) sleep. Don’t judge your friend who chooses to watch Netflix over having drinks at the bar. Learn from her.
I’m not going to waste time being ashamed of being a homebody anymore. In fact, someday I plan on owning a tiny home on wheels so that I can travel and always have my home and my own bed with me wherever I go. That is the life of my dreams. What’s yours?
