This is how I spent my one-week birthday leave…

… and I’m perfectly satisfied with it. ♥︎

Yes, I “wasted” one week of vacation leave just to do all this. It’s a week full of planned and unplanned mall-hopping, book-buying, gardening, and staying at home with my family. Add a sprinkle of errands here and there.

What a “boring” birthday celebration! But not the boredom that I would dread. Thinking about it, I rarely get bored doing nothing (except if it is a dragging Zoom meeting that I’m not supposed to be in). Daydreaming — that’s what keeps me from getting bored. Projects and ideas live rent-free in my mind. Not that I’ll jump into it immediately. It’s just there…waiting…to be birthed into existence or simply be forgotten.

Simplicity, too. I don’t really mind staying at home on my birthday (9pm is too late to be out for me now, anyway) or not having a traditional birthday cake (if it’s not too sweet, I’ll take it). My point is… at this season of my life, I prefer simplicity over grandeur. Sustainability over intensity. Not worrying too much about what might be and appreciating what is. Taking Jesus at His words and promises. Navigating life’s many twists and turns with prudence, lest I break my lower back.

If I ever have a chance to have another “boring” week, I would — with all my heart — plot it in our leave calendar.

My family and I could go on a road trip and stay at a nearby spot. That would be nice.

We can fly somewhere else far. That would be nice.

I could stay at home, be a plantita, and tour around the house I’m already familiar with. That would be nice, too. :)