Cincinnati. New experiences. Making memories. Firsts. These are some of my positive obsessions. But I am also a bit obsessive about control. I like to make the plans. I like to construct the program. I like to make the reservations. I’m sure some of you identify with my struggle. Well, Saturday, I got to explore the city I love while giving up that control!
Right now I’m participating in an all-church journey called Obsessed. It’s essentially evaluating our obsessions- good and bad. One of my challenges last week was to relinqush control of my time for at least four hours. I turned over eight hours of my Saturday to two people: my husband and my husband’s best friend, Kenny Frost.
Mind you, on this particular Saturday, I had so many things that needed to be done. Grocery shopping. House cleaning. Blog writing. Appointment making. Grading. But, in the spirit of the challenge, I let those things go! I got out of bed, shut down the “but you have so much stuff to do” voices, and started my journey. Not only did I have fun exploring the city, but I also experienced freedom and joy.
I’d love to share with you what my “no-control” Saturday in Cincinnati looked like. Check out the captions for each pic below.
I started my day at Krohn Conservatory taking in A Garden of True Imagination.
Spring Garden: the color, designs, and perfect imperfections of each flower made me hyper aware of just have special we each are as well.
Next stop, lunch at a VEGAN restaurant: The Loving Hut. I had specific instructions to order something new.
Japanese-style Udon noodles with veggies. Delicious. Trust me, I had never heard of this restaurant before.
I had specific instructions: go to the Main Library downtown and check out 4 things (two of which had to be nonfiction). Even though I LOVE books, I don’t hang out in libraries. My younger self was too loud.
This view of Devou Park never gets old.
Dropping off some sugary sweetness to good friends.
Walking the Purple People Bridge.
Eden Park- I love this pic!
My husband, knowing I like to know everything, sent me instructions in increments. His notes included things like putting my phone on airplane mode, journaling (he even put my journal in the car), reflecting, and, most importantly, being present. He definitely challenged my comfort zone in all the right ways.
Now Kenny, a lover of the outdoors, planned my afternoon. He challenged me to look at the city with fresh eyes. Probably my favorite moment was walking the Purple People Bridge and praying for the city. I would never have thought of that on my own.
Saturday reinforced my belief in minimalism for sure. There is so much beauty all around me. Parks. Views. Colors. People. Restaurants. I’d rather spend my time and money enjoying life than gathering things. But even more than that, I learned that trusting other people to arrange, to fix, and to plan, is actually exciting and freeing. This has to be one of my favorite days hands down!
GO THERE (Exploring this city)! TRY THAT (giving up control of your time)!
2 Comments
Judith Billing
March 14, 2018 at 7:05 pmwe both read this and enjoyed your day. did you go by yourself?
Mindy Trujillo
March 14, 2018 at 8:14 pmI spent most of the day alone, but not all of it!