I told myself I’d go to bed early. It was one of my biggest goals for September. On this particular day, I was preparing for our second day of homeschooling and I needed my sleep. But, sleep didn’t happen. My husband had to work late (as in 1am) and with his side of the bed empty, I laid there, eyes wide open.
The next day came quickly and I wasn’t sleepy per se, but I cried…..A lot. Because when I’m tired, I cry. Do you do that too?
Our homeschool day wasn’t ideal. The younger ones were distracting, I was short fused and my son was uninterested. I was off course and I wasn’t doing what was best for anyone around me. I was barely skating by, tired, ineffective and impatient. I second guessed everything and life just seemed bad.
After dinner, my husband cleaned up the kitchen, while I stepped outside for a minute.
Sunsets always pull me out, even on hard days. Each one seems better than the previous and I can’t understand why people stay inside, when this is happening right out their back doors.
As I stood still, it all came back me. I’m tired, but life isn’t bad. Life is actually a beautiful and precious gift.
Standing there in the quiet, I watched the sky come afire with color. Hands damp with fresh tomatoes sprinkled with dirt and rain falling softly on my feet. I knew right then, that for me to thrive, I need to create more quiet moments like this one. I had to slow down and completely unplug to remember who I am.
If you feel off course, I want to challenge you to take some time to be still and just listen. Think back to some of the best parts of your life. Those moments when you felt most alive. Write down what you know is good for you and then do more of that. No one can take care of you better than you can.
Sometimes we just need to be quiet in order to really hear. We need to shut down our phones and turn on our hearts. We need to remember what helps us thrive. Is it more sleep? Less sugar? More time outside? More time with our husbands? More time reading to our kids? Less social media and more in-person conversations?
As you begin up your week, write down just a couple things that help you be your best self. For me, I need more sleep and less sugar. From the bottom of my heart, I believe we contain an incredible amount of potential. What do you need to give up right now, in order to gain the person you were created to be?
