You have to be intentional about self-care and relaxation. Accordingly, I intentionally slept in on Saturday morning. I stretched and rose and put my organic flax and herb and lavender shoulder wrap in the microwave to heat. I had a plan. Saturday is my day off. I can go to work any time I please, I thought. For instance, I don’t have an appointment until 10:00 am. I will crawl back into bed and wrap up cozy with the organic heating pad and pretend I am at a spa. Maybe I will reheat the little flax sandbag and tuck it round my feet. Think of it, Self! You can relax.

It was 5:45 am and I was brushing my teeth when I noticed the distinct smell of popcorn. Popcorn? Who in my condo complex pops popcorn? I hadn’t even heard anyone else stirring.

I threw down my toothbrush and rushed to turn off the microwave. 7749 minutes remained on the timer. I charged across the room and jerked open the door to the outside air. There is nothing more nerve-wracking than a smoke alarm going off before dawn – or anytime for that matter. I switched the thermostat off – don’t want to heat the entire outdoors – and flipped on the stove fan and the bathroom fan.

Only then did I hazard opening the microwave door and quickly fishing out the burned healing pouch, evading the smoke alarm as I dashed to the door and flopped the thoroughly toasted flax beanbag onto the patio. But the planets! Oh the bright planets were in the sky and I had slept away 45 minutes of time I could have been hiking. Instead, leaving the outside door wide open, I wrapped up in my faux fur throw and watched the sunrise. Happy Saturday, Everyone!

Keep putting one foot in front of the other!