Just One of Them Days
Earlier this year, I decided that I was overdue for a massage. Since I favored the massage parlors I visited in Birmingham over the ones I visited at home, I decided to make it a mini vacation and stay overnight. The week of my mini vacation, I noticed I felt off, way more distant than normal. (I live with my parents and my brother.) One day, I couped myself in my room for hours, only resurfacing once I knew everyone was sleep. Fearing I was slipping into a depressive state, I analyzed my behavior. I realized that since moving in with my family, I was always around someone or at least in the same house as someone. My “me time” (as my family likes to call it) consisted of the few hours a couple days a week when everyone is gone to work. However, during those times, I’m usually working so I don’t really get to enjoy it fully. My therapist reminded me that we aren’t designed to constantly be around people and that it’s good to have a balance of alone time and fellowship with others.
The day of my trip, I packed my bags, headed to Starbucks, turned my phone on Do Not Disturb and hit the road. I was overly excited for just time by myself. I went to brunch, shopped at the bookstore, got my massage, chilled at the hotel room for a few hours, read some, dreamed some and ate again before returning to the hotel to cuddle up in the king size bed. The next morning, I decided to visit Rock City Church and received a wonderful word before returning on the road home.
The mini vacation revitalized and restored a part of me I didn’t know I needed. It reignited my creativity. My social battery was recharged. More importantly, I got to spend more time with God. Sitting in a different environment to hear from God can hit different. Even Jesus took time away from everyone to pray. (See Mark 1:35 and Luke 4:42 for a few examples). Moreover, Ephesians 5:29 (NLT) says, “No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.” Therefore, feed and take care of your body and soul by spending alone time with Jesus. This can happen by going to the park by yourself, taking yourself out on a date or doing like I did and staying overnight someone.
Wanting to be by yourself occasionally doesn’t mean you’re antisocial, it just means you need to be reacquainted with your own presence. Get to know YOU again. Evaluate what do you like to do and what do you not like to do. Evaluate your relationship with God and what you could be doing to get better.
