It's a staycation!

After getting home from the Dodger game on Friday night, I got to bed later, then woke up early to head over to my friend’s house to check on the dogs. I was, once again, the house sitter for my friends who are moving to Texas, and they’d had another trip planned before they decided that. So, they asked if I’d be able to watch the dogs again. I said ‘yes’ right away.

The first day gave me London vibes with the cloudy skies and rain falling. I had a hot chai latte, curled up on the couch with my books, a journal and usually a dog sitting right next to me. I also had a chance to catch up on new movies and TV shows I’ve been putting off. 

It reminded me of my apartment days - getting sushi takeout and watching trash celebrity news, watching movies all the time, sitting outside on the back patio, listening to perfectly curated playlists from Spotify. This time, I didn’t have any visitors or listening parties, but it felt like a nice little staycation. They live in a gated community with the clubhouse, a couple pools, a park area and community gatherings that take place throughout the month. 

 

I still worked, but did so from their house several days while the doggos kept me company. I only went into the office a couple days, then came back to check on them at lunch one day. We played outside, I took them out, fed them, took them on a few walks (although it was getting hotter, so we didn’t stay out too long) and we cuddled a lot. Honestly, having them was the best. They have such great and different personalities. Sesi is very sassy and stubborn, while Sierra is the sweet, rule follower, who became my Shadow.

 

 

 

 

Throughout the week, I tried to focus on self-care. I bought new pjs, did face masks and the like. I ate some of my favorite food. I journaled. I was supposed to have my next therapy appointment, but I had a migraine that day and didn’t go through with it. And I had myself a nice therapeutic cry on the back patio as the sun set...*SIGH* It was good after the fact.

 

 

I had a couple work events, including the alumni mentor program end of year celebration. All of our mentors and mentees were reunited with dinner and a celebratory closing for the year. We ate tacos, mingled with others there, listened to music and took advantage of the cooler weather while we still could. I got to spend time catching up with my mentee from the year, sharing experiences, meeting new people and even played a networking game that forced us to ask questions and talk to people we didn’t know. I had the opportunity to meet a couple therapists, which was very eye-opening, and we talked about the possibility of working together on a marketing project moving forward. It was a great time! Looking forward to seeing what my mentee does in the future and the upcoming year of the program. 

 

Overall, my week there felt a little like therapy, being over there. I was away from all the stuff, I was outside more. I had more awareness of the sunrises and sunsets, the heat on my skin, the breeze in my hair. It was nice to just sit and be in the mornings…to ease into the day instead of rushing into it. It was nice to unwind and play with the dogs and look at the stars, and feel small like my problems and worries just aren’t things that matter in the grand scheme of it all. 

 

 

Now, back to reality. Although, tomorrow’s reality is going to California Adventures. It’s not looking so bad!


–Shelby