The gift of free time
“There’s no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.” ~Alexander Woollcott
This morning, while waiting for my coffee to brew, I checked the wall calendar in my kitchen. The month of December includes several family birthdays and holiday plans, so most days are scribbled in ink with things to remember or do. The sight of a blank space today — no commitments, no appointments! — immediately gave me a little thrill.
It’s not that I don’t look forward to activities with family and friends. But I have to admit that I covert the luxury of an occasional free day to collect my wits or spend any way I choose.
Commitments and deadlines give all of us a sense of purpose and direction, but an overbooked calendar can be stressful. Sometimes a day of “nothing to do” is a gift to unfold and enjoy at your own pace. ~CL
Cindy La Ferle
Throughout my career, I've worked as a book production editor, travel magazine editor, features writer, and weekly newspaper columnist. My award-winning lifestyles features and essays have appeared in many national magazines and anthologies, including Newsweek, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer's Digest, Victoria, Better Homes & Gardens, Bella Grace, and more. My weekly Sunday "Life Lines" column ran for 14 years in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI) and won a First Place (Local Columns) award from the Michigan Press Association. My essay collection, Writing Home, includes 93 previously published columns and essays focusing on parenthood and family life.
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