mariakoropecky By Maria Koropecky
I spent this past rainy Sunday in January in my own little sanctuary, completely free to do whatever I wanted – and I loved it!
I stayed in my pajamas all day, only taking them off for a quick shower before slipping right back into them for comfort. I watched videos and a little of the “Catch Me If You Can” movie, learned how to use Canva Pro, made progress on my own creative project and savored meals that felt like little celebrations just for me. I didn’t go anywhere, didn’t answer to anyone, and didn’t have to do anything except follow my own nose wherever it led.
Early on, I also meditated with Palo Santo and Lapis Lazuli, letting the essential oil and crystal guide me into a quiet, centered space.
I also sang to myself all day, humming along to “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter and making up my own lyrics since I didn’t know them—all of it adding to the playful, light mood that carried me through the hours. I was fully present, completely at home in my own energy.
That got me wondering, when was the last time you curated your day just for you, not having to take anyone else’s preferences into consideration? When was the last time you truly sat in your own space and energy?
I don’t know about you—or if you’re an empath like me—but sometimes I think I forget who I am deep down because I take on so much from others. Spending the day by myself felt like heaven in a way, a reminder of what it’s like to simply be in my own company.
By the time evening rolled around, I felt relaxed but didn’t expect to have a game-changing insight in my dream later that night. In the dream, I was talking to some guy—maybe we were on a date—and I said something along the lines of, “We’ll see if we like each other and then take it from there.” But then, in the dream, I caught myself and shifted my thinking. I came back and told him, “I’m going to see how I feel around you, and if I like myself around you, then I’ll know.”
It hit me like a little lightning bolt: I get to choose who I spend time with based on whether I like my energy around them, not because they decided for me.
As an empath, I’ve long been aware of how easily I pick up other people’s moods and expectations. In the past, I’ve let others dictate the relationship and I just went along with things but now I see I have a choice to continue with them or not based on how I feel – whether they’re charming or we have history or whatever the story might be…
At this stage of my life, I no longer have the desire to get caught up in trying to please, adjust, or absorb someone else’s energy all in the name of feeling a sense of belonging and of being chosen. Now it’s about noticing how I feel in my own skin, in my own energy, and letting that be my compass.
In my dream and after a day of just puttering around the house, I realized that the real magic happens when I shift my attention inward—when I check in with myself, notice how I feel, and honor my natural rhythms and preferences. When I’m grounded in my own energy, everything else becomes clearer. I can see who or what adds to my life, who or what dims it, and how I want to show up—not as a reflection of others, but as myself.
When I woke up the next morning, it became even clearer: my quiet Sunday was a gift. I had been able to see myself in my own habitat, free from anyone else’s influence, and I quite like my own company. I don’t need to contort myself, prove myself, or hope that someone else likes me.
It’s up to me—and how I feel in my own life—that truly matters. I feel truly blessed to have had such a day, and I’m not trying to rub it in if you don’t have that kind of freedom—just sharing what this space allowed me to discover.
There’s a quiet power in giving yourself space to simply be—no agenda, no expectations, no one else’s energy shaping you. What do you like to eat? What do you like to wear? What are your interests?
Even a single day like this can remind us that the answers we’re searching for often live within our own presence. So take a moment, even if just for an hour, to notice yourself: how you feel, what lights you up, and how you show up when no one else is influencing you. For me, Sunday was a little gift—a reminder that when I like myself in my own company, everything else just hums.