So I have written about this topic before, but I think it is time to address it again. I have recently made the decision to do more things for myself because I need to work on being selfish at times. All of you know the type of person I am. I am the first to volunteer, I serve others well and I have a hard time saying no. But I can't keep it up. At this pace, I am going to drive myself crazy and I haven't liked the person that I have been lately. I know that I am at my breaking point and it is time to stop. I need to say no more. I need to not commit to doing so much and I need to take a step back. As Jen Hatmaker says in her book, its time to take things off your beam.
That's one reason I think I have started writing again, because it is making me be still and quiet. I am also trying to eat better (hence The Produce Box -- but more on that later).
But one thing that I have started to do again is to give myself me time. Quiet time. Time to myself. The big motivation right now is time to read and reread Jen Hatmaker's new book "For The Love". I still feel like I don't deserve to have this free advance copy. I can't believe that I get to be a part of this team and I am still having a hard time grasping it. And I am also way behind compared to other members of the Launch Team. But I am reading it at my pace. At a pace that I can absorb it. At a pace and time when all is quiet.
I recently had one of those nights. I curled up in my favorite chair. Hobbes was on the sofa across the room. Calvin was right beside me. Started with a little Breyer's Vanilla all natural ice cream with fresh local strawberries on top. It's a healthy dessert, right? It's all natural and the strawberries were grown locally. Finished with a glass of wine. I promise I had eaten dinner first.
And in between I read a few chapters of the book. Laughing out loud. Silently crying at times. Taking notes. Soaking it all in. But most importantly, spending time on my own.
I think that sometimes we allow ourselves to get to busy. To occupied. To overwhelmed. We can't relax. We can't be still. We can't be quiet. We are concerned about others. But have forgotten about ourselves.
Which leads to sleepless nights. Stress. Headaches. Need for Caffeine. And no joy, no happiness. No love.
That's not a way to live life. We all need time to recharge. Whether it is reading, maybe writing, maybe a hot bath. Maybe its just being still. But most importantly, its about listening to you. Your body. Your mind. Your heart.
You need to be You. I need to be me. I need a break. I need to disconnect. I need to breathe.
So I encourage you. Take time for yourself. Be you. Be kind to you. Love you.
