When I was child, spanking was the rule of thumb for parents to essentially "knock some sense" into you to prove your actions were unacceptable. As a parent, I used time out as a means for my children to "reflect" on their unacceptable behavior. Recently, I have come to find that you are never too old for a time out.
A friend and colleague sent me a transcript of author, Elizabeth Gilbert's interview from an O magazine video. She said that her one true passionate pursuit is writing. But after the success of her book, Eat, Pray, Love, she found her passion had fizzled and her writing in her words was "awful". Upon writing to her editor to confess about her lack of creativity and production, she received this advice. "Take a break! Don't worry about following your passion for a while. Just follow your curiosity instead."
Gilbert took her tired soul out to the garden and spent six months digging dirt instead of writing. The result was a renewed energy upon returning to her passion of writing. Gardening had given her a necessary time out.
Three simple words redirected Gilbert to her new book Committed, which she says she loves. The video is worth watching and perhaps her insights will produce a more mindful way of looking at "time out" for adults.
I have spent the last six months in utter turmoil with the caring for my mother-in-law, her move to independent living apartment, the clearing of her house and worldly possessions and the ultimate selling of the house on March 25th. I had no idea the burden that existed until it was gone.
I tried writing and found my thoughts were scrambled, unintelligible and not worth the click of the keys. I tried reading but within a few paragraphs my thoughts were wandering. I stayed in a motel for a few days while visiting friends and outside of visiting them, I slept. My passion was gone and all I wanted was to retreat, literally.
After reading the transcript of Gilbert's presentation, I am convinced that I, too, need a time out. Time to reflect on what I do, who I am and how the two have somehow become a jumble I no longer recognize. So if my posts seem few and far between, it is not because the thoughts are not tumbling through my exhausted brain. I am in a self appointed TIME OUT and don't intend to come out of my room until I have learned my lesson.
Images: Flickr by nist6ss