I’ve been taking back my time. Something I need to do every so often. No one was taking it from me. Just me taking it from me. And man, am I tough to reckon with.

This week I have spent a lot of time in a cafe, laptop in tow. Mornings, a few evenings. My “bread and butter” job is from 2-7 p.m. every day. That leaves me time for my creative and business pursuits. What was I doing with that time before? Who knows. Who cares. This is partly mouse-inspired empowerment and partly just a long overdue shift.

Then I went into the city and realized I was a half hour early for work. In a conscious attempt to continue savoring my time, I bought the August issue of Vogue and then purchased a Diet Coke from a hot dog vendor. He devoured me with his eyes, asked if I was Italian, told me he was Greek. I smiled and then found a ledge at FIT to sit and sip and browse.

My time. My way. Well, my better way.