The best time of the day

“Inhale and hold the evening in your lungs.” ~Sebastian Faulks, Engleby

What is your favorite time of day? Mine is dinner time—and not just because I love to eat (which I do). For me, on a typical day, dinner signals the end of the “must dos” and the beginning of “me time.”

I know for many of you with young families or other commitments, dinner only signals the beginning of your second job. But for me, once I sit down to dinner, I have completed my work day and my exercise; I’ve showered and put on my comfy clothes; and the whole wonderful free evening stretches before me.

I may write a little. I may color or do Sudoku puzzles. I will definitely talk with my husband, watch some television, and check social media. I may even do some personal business, prepare for the next day’s work, check on my bank account, paint my toenails. But most evenings, I have no hard commitments. I’m in charge of what I do and how much.

My second favorite part of the day is my early morning writing time—though it’s a bit of a struggle getting there. I hate my alarm clock and dragging myself out of bed. I stumble through my shower and even my meditation, but once I sit down to the table with my coffee and computer, I start to feel human. And the house is so peaceful and quiet. It’s really the only time of day that I am completely alone with my thoughts.

So there seems to be a theme here: sitting at the table, eating, doing what I want to do.

Now, of course, there are other occasions or events that I love—seeing the grandchildren, girls’ dinner, getting my hair and nails done, traveling, reading. What I’m talking about in this blog is not so much the activities that I love, but the time of day. And the winners are early evening and early morning.

What is your favorite time of day? And why?