Edith/Maddie here, writing on May Day from north of Boston.
It’s (finally) the merry of month of May. In English, “You may,” or “May I?” entails permission. So let’s riff on that thought for our Wicked Wednesdays this month!
If you had an English-grammar stickler for a mother like some of us did, you might have had this conversation when you were younger.
You: Can I go to the mall?
Mom: You can, but you may not.
Ugh, right? We’re all adults here, so you probably don’t have to ask for others for permission very often. But what about yourself? Wickeds, what do you ask yourself permission to do? Take a day off, write in a new genre, let the cleaning/laundry/cooking slide? Dish!
Barb: I honestly don’t think of my relationship with myself in this externalized way at all. Am I weird?
Julie: Barb, that’s a loaded question this early in the month, LOL. I find that it isn’t as much asking as it is giving myself permission to work less, take a walk, grab a nap. I’m trying to get better about that.
Barb: Laughing! Okay, Julie. I withdraw the “Am I weird?” part of my comment.
Jessie: What a fascinating question! I am not sure that I think in terms of permission, at least not within myself. If I want to do I thing I am generally inclined to give it a go.
Edith: As with Julie, I tend to want to give myself permission to take time off from work, from my daily routine.
Readers: Do you ask yourself permission or, like some of the Wickeds, just take it?
The Wickeds 
Since I consider myself as self-employed–and as a rather tough boss–I often need to request a day off…and rarely grant it. Once I complete and turn in the edits I’m working on, I think I’ll demand a long weekend off.
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Go for it!
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At this stage in life, I give myself permission to do what I want, as soon as I want, and as often as I want. There no putting off that trip, going out to eat at that special place or having a slow down read day. You look back and think of all the things you might have missed out on because you said “no” to yourself. However, the good point is because we said no, worked and saved our pennies, it has enabled us as retirees to be marking off items from our bucket list, being able to change our plans at the drop of a hat and to enjoy our golden years. So, I forgive myself for not doing things soon and pat myself on the back for doing them now. 🙂
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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Sounds like a great approach to life, Kay!
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TIme got away from me! I grew up in the same kind of family with the would/could and can/may. Plus if I said, “Pass the potatoes” instead of “Please pass me the potatoes,” the potatoes went the opposite way of where I was. (Not that it really mattered. There were only for of us.) I’m like Barb, I don’t give myself permission to do things. So if she’s weird, so am I!
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We love our wierdos! And count me in.
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I’m like Julie – I have to give myself permission to take time off. Otherwise I feel guilty I’m not working!
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Same!
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I often have a conversation with myself about earning a day off from writing. If it’s been a productive week, I will consider giving myself a Sunday off.
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Same! (Edith)
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I often struggle with giving myself permission to do things. Especially if I have a long list of blog related things I should be doing. The fun usually wins, and then I find I’m much more productive for the blog once it is over. I’ve learned to give myself that permission more often as a result.
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Sounds like a good plan, Mark! (Edith)
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I have to give myself permission otherwise I feel as if I’m letting myself down! On the flip side – it means I can give myself treats and rewards for jobs well done, nearing completion, ahead of schedule, etc.
Can and may was big at my house, too.
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Treats and rewards are great motivators! (Edith)
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May I say that, like Kay, being retired I can do pretty much as I choose? However, I also am still such a responsible person, that I have to tell myself it’s OK to do nothing some days. I deserve it and enjoy it.
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First of all, weird is good, strange is not. I have always been a bit weird. Second, when I taught English and the kids asked me, “Can I go to the bathroom?” I said something similar to you Maddie. I would say, “We know you can, but you should ask, may I go the bathroom?” Ha, we are on the same wavelength. Now that Iam retired, I do what I want when I want. I buy what I want when I deicide I want it. I do what I want during the day (unless Hubby Dearest has something specific for me to do that day). We all must compromise at some point. Have a great week you all. As Peter Weller said as “Robocop,” “wherever you go, there you are.”
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