The Morning After

The morning after the Fourth has its own quiet. The fireworks are done. The leftovers are in the fridge. The neighborhood is sleeping in. There’s a gentleness to the day-after that I’ve come to really appreciate.

This is a recovery Sunday, and recovery is a legitimate use of a day. If yesterday was big — lots of people, lots of food, lots of noise and joy and stimulation — today can be small. Slow coffee. A quiet morning. Maybe a walk once it cools down, or maybe not. The dog and the couch and nowhere to be.

Maple, for the record, has Opinions about fireworks, and her recovery plan today involves staying very close to me and supervising my every move. We are taking it slow together.

Don’t rush back into motion. Let the day after be soft. You don’t have to earn the rest — you just have to take it.

The day after a big day can be small. Let it be soft.

What does a good recovery day look like for you?