It’s Friday. Even if that means nothing to your schedule, pretend it does. Put it in a solid, quit, and leave it. Tonight, do something you don’t have time to do. Ignore the messy house. Do something for old time’ sake. Get a little reckless (and by that I mean splurge, not go home with someone at a bar).
I think I’m going to have a long game of Settlers of Catan. Reckless? Yes. With some good men including Daniel Aisenbrey who just returned from an 8000 mile solo road trip around the US while reading Steinbeck, shooting vintage film, and buying a pass to all National Parks.
But lets go back to slowing down for a second. How does one just slow down and not drop the ball? Look at your health, a good indicator. Do you sleep? Do you have a vice? Or look at your attitude. Are you unsatisfied all the time and disappointed by people? Do you like yourself? Do you feel like you always get an unfair deal?
Three weeks ago I was working an extremely physical 70 hours a week, drinking a thermos of coffee a day with about three Coke Zeros in the afternoon, going to sleep covered in dried paint with my work clothes by the bed ready to slip back on and meet the guys outside at 6. I wasn’t a husband, a dad, a songwriter, or anything I wanted to be. I had good intentions. When you squeeze life that hard you’ll never get out all you’re looking for.
So in some regard, I’m glad I got laid on my back for awhile to think about things. I even get a glorious story and everybody thinks I’m tough. The truth is that I’m not so tough, I’m scared a lot. I’m scared that I’m not enough. And what I’m learning is that I’m not enough by myself. I have my faith, family and a lot of friends. That is enough.
”I am learning to look.” ~Emily Janowick
Rebekah Campbell on Facebook said:
I started about a month ago taking a few minutes in the morning to do nothing. The goal is 15 but I still haven’t worked up to that. I set the timer in another room for 10 and sit in a comfortable chair and just clear my mind. Focus on the present moment. Not a task list or a worry. Meditation. A word and practice that has been relegated to the ones conceived as super spiritual or weird but in this world of high speed everything. Internet, fast food, microwaves, to sit quietly for more than a moment creates unbelievable stress. It take practice to let my soul have permission to BE. That single practice has transformed my days and when I fail to even attempt it because I’m too busy, I’m reminded of the high cost. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Melinda Watson said:
Russ, we call it “soaking”. I even teach it to the ladies in my class at Ladies Living Free. Just put on some soft worship music and allow God’s love to envelope you – even if it’s only for 10 or 20 minutes. We tell them that it’s almost like a selfish time. But, after all, the scriptures tell us that it’s because He first loved us that we can THEN love. Our part is just to believe and RECEIVE. You’ll be amazed the refreshing He gives you. Hmm, come to think of it, I haven’t done that myself in a while. Think I will.