Excuse the delay in sending out another post. Leigh and I have had some "out of the ordinary" situations happen. My husband was in a car accident; it was scary for a bit, but he is getting better everyday. Thank goodness no one else was hurt. Also there are some exciting things happening with Leigh! I can not speak for my amazing friend, but I know she will tell in due time. Leigh you are truly inspiring and I love you everyday! (Skins)
With that said, I feel you guys shouldn't have to wait to read up-lifting stories as Leigh and I promised. We will try to do better, thanks for hanging in there with us!
Okay, today's post is from a dear friend of mine for many years who I absolutely adore and respect. She is one of a kind, she is funny and as *real* as a women can be! I love you SC!
I hope you enjoy her story!
(Disclosure: I added some pictures that I thought would be appropriate, as I feel visuals are fun and complete a story. Please note: All photos are found on the internet and none are of SC or her story.)
Here we go:
“Taking a break is good for the soul, good for the mind, and good for the body.”
I’m sure I have read or heard that somewhere…maybe I have been told by someone else or even told myself about a particular topic. Maybe I just made it up right now. When my kids get frustrated with a task, I tell them, “Take a break…do something else for a little while and get back to it…re-group.” It works for them and I feel like a smart mom.
What about taking several breaks from different things at the same time to see what was or wasn’t working for the soul, mind and body? I did just that a month ago...stopped doing things that I thought made me who I am.
This very act is getting me back to doing one of the things I was breaking from…writing. I am a chronic journaling champ. Good days, bad days, laughing moments, crying moments where my inked words are smeared with tears, angry words and fabulous moments….all written down. It always feels better to write things down…more so the upsetting stuff. Rather than say it out-loud and I am not capable of holding them in, as much as I wish I could (I don’t feel that is healthy) I just write it out and move on – not hurting anyone in the process. The good days were getting fewer and far between in the last six months, so I stopped writing at all…just to see what I felt. I found I can let things go easier than I thought I could. I don’t have to run to my journal to be upset with my husband or frustrated that i can’t seem to get a good school night routine down (I am SO ready for summer!)
Taking a break from making lists is something else: I am a list freak, because it feels great to mark something off to see an accomplishment….No, I don’t need to write down that I need to pick up my 9 year old from afterschool care on my way to HEB, but when I do write an item, I get to cross it off…because it shows I did something. So when I make lists and I don’t cross something off, I feel "not" so fantastic, and holy crap when I find a list from two years ago (yeah – that’s a whole other topic, I HAVE that list two years later...whatever) but to find the same damn to-do’s on the list still today – ugh! SO, I stopped making lists; even the simple ones. Now, I get my youngest and we go to HEB, (that grocery list still happens because my memory sucks, and the list is in the order of the store.) I don’t miss my lists near as much as I thought I would. I pick and choose my tasks for the evenings now: Laundry – it will always be there and I will always do it, same with the rest of the house. I am sitting down with my family way more often now ~ They dig it, I dig it. :)
Crossfit. Yep – I’m not an annoying freak about it (yet) and I would love for the world to try Crossfit at least once. I think it is amazing. It’s been my physical outlet next to running for the last five years. I have to go at 5:15 am due to my work schedule and location. FIVE years, I’ve been up working out that early. I lost count how many times, people say, “You’re crazy for getting up so early to work out” and I used to be proud to say “Yep!” Welllllll....lately, I’m just damn tired at 4:45 am, so I started to miss going to the workouts, and I started to resent my job (that I already don’t like,) because I couldn’t change my workout routine time. Now, I do not look like the Crossfitters you see on ESPN, nope, I enjoy my beer and my food and I’m not wanting to compete in the Crossfit Games~ well, not yet anyway. ;) I told myself it was time for a break; so I put my membership on a 3 month hold. I want to miss it, I want to love Crossfit again!
I want to write a book one day.
I want to find a crossed-off list - NOT a repeat list
I want to be a Crossfit coach when I retire in four years.
So, where am I at now? I just did an essential journal entry, made a list, and my Crossfit membership starts back up in December. I didn’t quit…I took what I thought was an obligation away for just a little bit so I could remember to enjoy these things rather than let them define me. I’m regrouping and I am remembering I am worth following the advice I give my children.
Take a break. Re-group in your very own way. We are all worth having peace in our soul, mind, and body.
~SC