Tuesday Tune – Switching Off

– Elbow

A while ago DH and I noticed that even once the kids were in bed and dishes were done, we didn’t actually get to relax for any reasonable chunk of time in the evening. For me this is particularly difficult because my ‘work’/’ministry’ is here and happens any time and in a variety of different places whereas DH’s is away from home, and has a definite location. I often end up reading my emails, or just looking at interesting things online and not actually closing my computer, turning off the TV and either just going to bed (I am rubbish at this – I always go to bed too late) or reading or just being… sitting and doing nothing or actually chatting with DH (I know, crazy idea – talking to your husband?!) As I also really love listening to Radio 4 and the various amazing and interesting things that they present and discuss can mean that there are always ideas and words going into my brain and that I don’t always have time to process them or for them to take root in me.

DH mostly listens to music and so he decided to choose a song for me that would be both reminder and a physical trigger to relaxing, turning off, tuning out and being. Highly appropriately he chose this song, ‘Switching Off’ by Elbow… which I love and which I try to remember to play! I think that idea was that I would listen daily to it and remember to chill out and ‘switch off’… and not just switch off and spend time on my own but switch off and be with DH… share my crazy thoughts and ideas of the day with him instead of waiting ’til we’re in bed to start big conversations. I haven’t quite managed this but as Lent is nearly upon us (we stuffed ourselves with pancakes this evening…) and I want to try to do less and spend a bit more time perhaps meditating or something similar, this is a timely reminder of the need to shut-up, be still, stop striving and rest.

Is this making sense?
What am I trying to say?
Early evening June
This room and a radio play
This I need to save
I choose my final thoughts today
Switching off with you.

Hmmm, beautiful, haunting… perfect.