Good morning!

I LOVE the morning.  It’s my favorite time of the day.  The day ahead has so much promise, there’s quiet before the hustle and bustle of the day begins.  I love being in my car on the way to the gym while no one is on the road yet.  It’s quiet and I’m alone with my thoughts.  This is my “me time.”

While I’ve never had a morning routine per say–sometimes I dry my hair and then pick my outfit, sometimes I pack my lunch before getting ready–I used to do almost the same thing most mornings a week: get up, go to the gym, come back, shower, breakfast, Today Show, get ready, make lunch, go to work.

Recently though, I’ve been spending my mornings a little differently.  I’m doing what I like to call “what I feel like, when I feel like.” Most mornings I get up between 5:45 and 6:15ish and most mornings I have chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. But other than that, I’m just listening to my body and mind to decide what I want to do and then honoring that.

Some mornings it means going to the gym and zoning out on the elliptical.  Other mornings it means busting through a serious strength training routine.

Some mornings it means doing chores like laundry or dishes.  One morning recently I got up and made this quinoa! Another Monday, I got up and went grocery shopping.

Some mornings I just want to veg on the couch so I’ll zone out in front of the Kardashians.  Other mornings, I’ll crawl back into bed for 20 minutes after breakfast and nap or read.

Some mornings I’ll blog or work or check email. One morning while we were house-sitting I got off the metro and walked in the direction opposite my office, went to Starbucks and sat and wrote for 15-20 minutes in my journal.

I love this.  I love easing my way into the day on my own terms, in my own way.  There aren’t many hours each day that are “mine” and I’m relishing this time of using these hours to relax and do what I want to do.  It’s like I’ve added a little piece of weekend to each of my days.  Yes, there’s a part of me feels like I should get back into a more regular gym routine.  And when my body tells me that’s what it wants, that’s what I’ll do.

But for now, I’m loving my non-routine.  I’m honoring my self, my body, and my mind in this small way every day.  And it feels so good.  Isn’t this what life is all about?

First a question or two, then a request.

How do you spend your mornings? What’s your “me time”?

Find a way to honor a piece of yourself–however small or however selfish it might feel.  Indulge in it.  Relish it.  And then, do it again.