TIMEOUT

Date: October 27, 2020 | Danielle Damrell

 

Yesterday was the first snow day of the season and as beautiful and magical as snow is, I found myself needing a TIMEOUT. Since the start of school this year, I have selfishly counted on having Monday’s all to myself as a time to set up my week and mentally prepare myself for whatever mountains I have to face that week. When unexpected things come up that cause me to divert from the plan, I have a hard time embracing that change. I struggle with structure on a daily basis…

Yesterday was the first snow day of the season and as beautiful and magical as snow is, I found myself needing a TIMEOUT. Since the start of school this year, I have selfishly counted on having Monday’s all to myself as a time to set up my week and mentally prepare myself for whatever mountains I have to face that week. When unexpected things come up that cause me to divert from the plan, I have a hard time embracing that change. I struggle with structure on a daily basis. Most of my life I felt I’ve had no other choice but to deal with the immediate circumstances and this very well might be the first season where I am strong enough and clear-headed enough to actually set a schedule or a plan.

 

Throughout the many different forms therapy, I’ve experienced, I’ve learned about the importance of “taking a timeout” but have never had enough grace or understanding with myself to apply it. To be completely honest, I’ve resisted this tool. I’ve resisted it because when I think of a timeout, I think about my 5 year old daughter who acts out and then goes to timeout to “think about her actions.” I’ve resisted it because I’ve thought of it as form a punishment. Reframing the word “timeout” to be a helpful tool in which I can take a set amount of time to allow my emotional and physiological reactions to play out in order to get into my rational mind is incredibly FREEING.

 

All that to say, I think we all need to take a timeout sometimes. It’s a necessity, not a punishment.

 

 

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