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As a busy mom and wife, there is usually very little time left for me. So I can no longer meet up with the girls for happy hour, keep up with great music and spend hours in the record store buying cds, or decide next week to up and take a trip just because I feel like it… atleast I can no longer do these things on a whim the way I used to when I was single with no children in-tow. I have to admit, I do feel a bit of nostalgia when I think back to those days. I used to enjoy life more or maybe in a different way. Don’t get me wrong,  I love my family, but once you’ve got a family, you kind of lose yourself between the kids, your husband and your neverending chores.

Oprah recommends that if you want to feel alive again, you should create a “What I Enjoy” list. It’s a list of things that you love to do or things you used to enjoy doing….it’s just to make you aware that there are things in the world that do make you feel alive. They recommend that you make time to do something you enjoy at least once a week, do it and help yourself feel alive in that moment. Sounds good to me.

I think the things I miss the most are concerts and long distance travel. Actually I’ve still managed to go to a concert here and there, so I’m not totally deprived. But I was pissed that being 8 months pregnant,  I recently had to miss out on seeing Raphael Saadiq because I’ve been waiting at least 5 years for him to come back to Washington, DC since his last concert .  As for travel a 3 1/2 hour trip from Puerto Rico with my 1 year old last year sold me on the fact that I will take  no trips longer than 2 hours until my kids are atleast 4. I’m sure I don’t even have to explain, because I’m sure you’ve had atleast one plane ride sitting near the screaming kid.

Now, its a new day… a busy life with kids. So I am learning to create a new “What I Enjoy” list. Yes, I still try to shop at my favorite record store because I could never enjoy life without music. Instead of heading to the movie theater, I am a fan of “On Demand” and the local “Redbox” for movies…not to mention its far cheaper than running to the movie theater every week. I love spending time with my kids, do I’ve added evening walks and trips to the neighborhood park to watch them enjoy themselves. It’s quite rewarding to see them smile. I’ve also become a D.I.Y.-er. I live for HGTV and DIY TV. I love to take on little home improvement projects.

What about you? What things are on your “What I Enjoy” list? What do you do to relax? What activities helped you to “find yourself”?