Ask for Space, Receive It

Today was a doozy.It probably started yesterday, when I was already feeling cranky about too many social obligations. But, the morning coffee date helped with a latte and conversation and then a hot shower put me in a good enough mood that I rallied.At the bbq, I laid low. Sat outside away from the game-day noise, rocking on a chair with a friend. But after three beers and the games ending, I wanted to leave. My husband did not. He wanted to stay for a round of card games. We had a small tiff as he went so far as to ask what we'd do when we go home - read a book?Uh, ya. I was craving rest and alone time. Once we finally got to leave, and I drove us home, I took advantage and worked on my Cultivating Courage class. I sipped tea and doodled and sat in the quiet.In bed, though, the beer, food and tea all equaled grossness. I was caffeinated, sugared-out and uncomfortable. Sleep took forever.5am - BANG. A terrible sound jolted me from my dream. It sounded like someone was banging a bat against metal.Crazy homeless person in the alley? Nope. It was my sister's rabbits thumping in their cage on the balcony. I tried dealing with them myself and then woke her up to bring them inside.By 5:30am I was wide awake, on a Monday holiday, feeling my 3m run slip away and f-ing cranky.H suggested we get up. I suggested we walk the dog at the beach, sunrise-style. We were at the beach by 6:15am. I was cold, hungry and pissed. This was not the way I'd pictured my day off before a hell-week of work.But now that I'm learning (and relearning) and paying attention, I went with it. Foggy head, tired eyes, cold body. I wasn't happy, but I didn't struggle. I snapped some photos, listened to the waves crash. We decided to drop the dog at home and go out for breakfast, husband's treat. I inhaled eggs mondaire and coffee.Back at the house, I crawled into bed with a heat pack and laptop. I felt too ill to sleep, too tired to do anything. It sucked. I wanted to cry. Instead, I just gave up, and went back to sleep at 9am.It was bliss. For the first hour I just laid there with racing thoughts, but once I fell asleep, it was the boost I needed. And then I laid in bed some more, wrote morning pages, checked email, went on IG and asked to be left alone by my family (which was my courageous act of the day).And somehow, the rest of the day, was great. My sis and I video chatted with mom quick. Then we all packed up and went to the park where H and I played roller-hockey and my sis hung with the dog. Then we hit up Trader Joe's. Returning home, I had more work crap to deal with (apparently the Universe didn't understand today was a day off) and when the work stuff didn't pan out, I gave up... and did an hour of yoga. I mean, really, who AM I?!Yoga. Hot shower. More e-course work and then dinner, prepared by my husband. And now I'm here - sitting in an arm chair in our living room, relaxed and sleepy, ready to go get a solid 8 hours of sleep. Today was like three days rolled into one, but I am grateful I did two things: asked for space and received it.I'm learning...