A Date with Benefits

So, the day arrived - a day I have been looking forward to for weeks.  My Date with my Hairdresser.  His name is Alex.   He is happily married with 3 beautiful children.  But he is still one of my most favourite men.  I simply go in there - get my jacket hung for me, am offered beverages and then seated and asked, sincerely, how I am and what is new.  Alex got an earful this morning - but he is a good listener!  We have great banter, share ideas and sarcasm and although he's not my husband - he is still very special to me as he makes my hair shine! :)  My other date was with myself at the gym.  I enjoy sweating and feeling muscles twitch and shake as I push myself to lift more and lift it higher.  It is my time to myself.  A time to think of what's going on in my life right now, watch other people with idle curiosity, or plan my week- while listening to wicked tunes on my ipod.  No phones to answer, no kids to deal with (they are in the day care), nor a husband to help out.  I often feel like a completely spoiled housewife when I am working out.  Here I am, doing my thing, feeling good and then I have a moment of guilt as I know others are out there working their tails off-some in mundane jobs, thankless work, or even a cool job....and then I realize, heck, I work too....it's just different work.  It's all good.  Housewife is a category to check off the employment list too.  One person/thing I love more than my hairdresser (and husband and kids too sometimes) is my dog, Charlie.  She is my companion and best pal.  She is my snuggler and kisser.  She and I have dates on the couch just chatting and hanging out.  There isn't much I wouldn't do for that wee dog.   I had to clean up a winters worth of her dog doo out of the back yard this evening.  It was disgusting - but necessary.  As I was being super-pooper mom, I realized that my dates for myself today weren't really about me at all.  Yes, I do benefit from the hair and eyebrow wax, from the exercise and kid-free time, and from the shit-free yard....but at the end of the day - a day for me is really my gift to everyone else.  I go to the gym to lose weight, look good and feel great.  Result:  my kids get a mom who looks ok, they aren't embarrassed about me, I have energy to play with them, to run around with them to their activities, and I am in a better mood all around.  I can be a nice mom.  The hair cut makes me feel good about myself. Some may say that's shallow, but I bet they don't have good hair.  When I leave the hairdresser I feel confident and sexy.  The gray is all gone....I don't feel old and frumpy.  Darren, Kamrin, Mikka and Luci get a wife / mom who  is peppy and ready to help them with any task - thanks to another man! :)   And Charlie scores a yard with no khakha!  My patience grows as does my willingness to do for others when I focus on myself within reason.  So - a day for myself does benefit me, but it also a gift I can give to everyone else around me because I am healthy and happy and ready to GO!