Guest Post by: Maria Dowd
There’s nothing more “special” than being upstaged by a little squirt…my then 3-year old daughter, Lauren. Sensing an imminent punishment for misbehaving, she’d skip a few steps ahead of me and put herself on time out. Grabbing her red plastic $2 chair from (then) Pic N Save, she’d wedge herself into the corner, facing the wall, and look back at me as if to say: “So there!”
Reflecting back on those moments, my cute little dust-colored child, who’s now 28 and really, really good at taking time outs (usually in different cities or countries) may have been onto something big.
Maria and her daughter Janelle.
How to Put Yourself on Time Out 101:
- Schedule your time outs. Put them into your calendar, then honor and protect those blocks of time.
- If you do it at home, you may have to empty it of all people prone to yell or cry out your name. Or, enlist of the support of someone responsible. When my daughters were young, I’d hire a teenaged “mommy’s helper” or barter time with my girlfriend who also had young children.
- If your time out spot is a room in your house, it should have a (locking?) door, be visually calming, cozy and maybe spiked with your favorite aromatic scents, fresh flowers and soft music.
- Snuggle up with your favorite soul-stirring, Holy or other inspirational book, magazines, journal, and recordings. Journal all of the things that you’re grateful for, or make reminder lists of the gifts you bestow unto the world.
- Take a meditative walk, and notice the elements around you that are organic, beautiful, and/or would make for a really nice black and white or sepia-toned photograph. I’ve learned from my oldest daughter, Janelle, the artsy, extra-ordinariness of a photo void of color.
- Do something out-of-the-ordinary or creative, that calls on your senses of well-being, faith, passion and desire. My favorite is collage-making. It may be recorded messages of gratitude sent to loved ones, a crocheted throw, cooking/baking. What comes to mind first for you?
- Mindfully select a friend or family member to call who is always positive and uplifting…or funny. When I want raw laughter, I call my baby sister, Kamilah. When I want an unconditionally loving and nonjudgmental conversation, I have a list of sister-friends (enlightened listeners) I can reach out to. Stay clear of gossipers and complainers, even if they are your BFFs.
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How will you create your time outs?
Maria Dowd, is a naturalista, former producer of African American Women on Tour empowerment conferences; and is the owner of Sol City Beauty Company, distributor of DESIGN ESSENTIALS® hair care products, including DE’s NATURAL line. Visit her online store follow on Facebook here.
