Editor’s Note: It’s a bonus blog from yours truly! If you’re looking for a reason to become a member of the Disentanglement community, this may be it. The creative spark is as unpredictable as life itself. Becoming a member ensures you won’t miss a publication. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at anytime.
I have a phobia of running out of gas. I think it originates from being a passenger on the Interstate in Florida while the driver and co-pilot thought it would be exciting to see how far they could drive before running out of fuel.
When I’m the driver, I check the fuel gauge religiously to make sure there’s plenty of gas.
Personally though?
Last weekend, a virus knocked me off my feet. While most people were enjoying the Canadian long weekend and unofficial kick off to summer, I was inside shivering, wrapped up in blankets, recognizing I really need to take it easier.
It’s been full throttle for several weeks. Let me rephrase that – I’m running on half cylinder thanks to burnout and I pushed harder than I should have.
I even had to cancel some plans with friends. Much like the chokehold on oil coming through the Straight of Hurmuz, unfortunately, there’s only so much energy to go around.
Still, I obviously overdid it.
Sickness is my body’s way of reminding me I hit the wall. It’s time to slow down.
For a high-achiever like myself, that’s just plain hard.
There was a time I would be embarrassed to acknowledge the need to rest. The shame is not all mine but I’ll own some.
Modern society teaches us we must be constantly on the go. “Busy” is glorified and many wear it like a badge of honour. I wore my badge with pride convinced that my productivity was a direct correlation to my success in life.
It’s not.
In fact, being on the go all the time is counterproductive.
When we rush through life, we miss out on opportunities, people or alignment.
For years, I pushed myself to complete the various tasks and responsibilities society demanded of me. Don’t most women? After a hectic work week with no time to think, my weekends were consumed by “to do lists” like family obligations, food prep, cleaning, shopping and exercise. Most of it seemed unavoidable.
There was little time to rest.
And now? Tucked safely away from the hustle culture, I still struggle to rest. Why? My descendants worked hard for what they had and rest wasn’t an option for them. Napping certainly wasn’t part of the family vocabulary.
Our nervous systems require time to recuperate, renew and restore. If napping or resting is hard for you too, deep breathing, spending time outside, watching birds or the moon and the stars may be the refresh you need. (If you have no idea where to begin when it comes to star-gazing, check out our regular Sky Report each Saturday morning. We also ran an interesting story about bird watching. Another perk of becoming a member is access to the complete Disentanglement library. There’s over 180 stories there!)
When we slow down, we can move from a space of intention. Progress is sustainable rather than exhausting. The path forward becomes clearer.
My gas tank has been empty for years. I’ve been running on fumes for way too long. I overextended myself and the result was severe burnout.
It’s not easy to be idle when “doing” is so deeply engrained.
There have been many days that I look at the growing list of things to do – and let’s face it, there is always something especially at this time of year – and I just shrug and accept that it’s not happening today.
Amazingly, “to do lists” are always waiting – tomorrow, next month or next year.
We can all take small steps like saying no, prioritizing rest and relaxation, and above all else, determining what’s necessary to complete and what’s a “nice to do”.
After all, there is beauty in rest!
Are you enjoying Disentanglement? Drop me a note and let me know!
I’m not only low on energy, I’m very low on content for next month. Do you have a story to share? The sky is the limit! Let’s talk.
