Bridget Jones finds herself in a lot of awkward situations, but finally, YES, finally, she finds herself on an upswing. The man she has fallen head over heels for asks to take her away on a long weekend.
An Open Invitation
Suddenly, Bridget feels “like a screen goddess in the manner of Grace Kelly!” So what if she was “so elegantly less elegant under pressure” when she arrived at the hotel with her hair in knots? An open convertible can do that to a girl.
Admit it, the idea of getting away has its appeal. Removing yourself from the stress, stepping back from work, taking the time to enjoy the things that make you happy. The truth is, if you had any true sense of life balance, you would already be doing those things EVERY DAY.
Instead, too many of us wait for these magical breaks to appear. The problem is they rarely turn up unless you go hunting for them. I know better than anyone.
Take a Holiday for Yourself
When you listen closely, Bridget does not simply say that Daniel is taking her away for the weekend. She says that he is taking her on holiday. How much more romantic does that sound?
A holiday is a special event to be celebrated. Christmas. Easter. President’s Day. Valentine’s Day. Veteran’s Day. Each holiday holds meaning. It is a day where something or someone is being honored. How nice would it be for that special someone to be YOU? And better yet, for that holiday to be not only one but two or three days long?
No wonder Bridget was so excited!
Downtime is downtime, whether it’s an official holiday or your own personal mini break. For me, a visit to my local Barnes and Noble for a chai latte is the perfect timeout, even if I can only swing it once or twice a month. Every moment counts.
Take A Mini Break for You
The trouble with Bridget is that she made her “holiday” all about Daniel. In her eyes, “a mini-break means true love” even though he has shown her time and time again that he is a taker, not a giver. What she needs to remember is that true love does not have to come from romantic love. Sometimes it can be something you do for yourself.
Self-care is not about hygiene, although I hope everyone brushes their teeth and washes their hands. For me, self-care means taking the time to do things that bring you inner happiness, things that ignite your spirit, that soothe the soul. A bit of self-reflection and self-attention, simple “me” time, even if for a few minutes, can be the boost you need to take what life throws at you.
Needless to say, Bridget’s weekend does not go exactly as planned, because she sets herself up for disappointment. Your mini break, however, does not need to suffer the same fate. Not if you set some of that time aside for YOU, and give yourself the self-care that you need and deserve. Then it will have all been worth it.