Project: Life Change. The first things on the list

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
-- Lao-tzu. This saying is on a stained, tattered and torn piece of paper that's been taped to my mom's refrigerator for years.

We've had a tough week. We've been emotional and upset and needing care. Lil E is a sensitive boy and even though he's not been privy to the serious conversations going on in our household, he's been absorbing a lot of the stress and clinging to me, whining uncharacteristically and needing his paci even more. The cuddles feel good but there are not a band-aid for the challenges we are trying very hard to not just address but dig into deeply.

In the middle of all of this, I've tried to be mindful, making a mental list of all the things I'd like to include in my own personal Project: Life Change. What kept coming up was my need for a break. A break from work. A break from our cluttered apartment. A break from the phone and the email and the stats checking. A break from the stress.

When my mom asked if Lil E could have a sleepover with
her on Saturday night, it seemed like a perfect opportunity for us all
to find a break from all the stuff that mucked up our week and our
thoughts and our very tender sensitivities. My grrrlfriends understood
when I canceled dinner plans with them and made a date with my husband.
I have to admit, it was a little nerve-wracking. I can't believe how
out of practice we'd gotten in a summer of going out alone less and
less often.



Once Lil E was strapped into my mom's car with his overnight bag and an
evening full of Camp Grandma plans, I got into our car and headed
straight for the nail salon.



I've been wanting a mani-pedi for months but couldn't feel like the
cost was justifiable with vacation and an exorbitant air conditioner
energy bill. But Saturday night, I put my worries aside and turned up
the vibrating pedi chair to 8 and gave into the goodness. And good
Lord, it was worth it.



Two hours later, we ate dinner at the Bad Dog Tavern, one of our favorite spots, and indulged in a little raunchy, angsty teen humor Super Bad-style at
a movie theater down the street. We talked. About serious stuff but not
the stressful stuff. We laughed. Hard. And we agreed to do it again.
Soon.



If we hadn't been having so much fun, I would have been sad that the
last time we could remember being out at a movie together was LAST
SUMMER.



I took the first steps with gorgeous toes and my gorgeous husband. It felt good, like coming out of a long and unrestful sleep.



My next steps? I'm calling babysitters tomorrow and getting our
anniversary and date nights for the rest of the year on their books and
ours.



And you? What is the first thing you will do for your own Project: Life Change?

Remember, all you have to do to get started is tell us you're in! Then, simply leave a comment or post on your own blog and leave the links as a comment. We're in this shiz together, my friends.