The first half of 2017 has been non-stop. I had the opportunity to welcome 2017 the same way I did 2016 – on vacation. While it was tempting, I remembered how difficult it was to get back to business when we returned, so I decided not to do it this year. Instead of not being able to build momentum throughout the year, it felt like things never slowed down for the first 6 months of the year!
I thought that I would get rest after the career fair was over, but there always seemed to be something else to do. I kept promising that “next weekend” would be the one where I took a day for myself; no work, no computer, no phone. That day didn’t come until last week and it wasn’t something that I scheduled, it was something I was forced to do.
When I started to feel the sore throat, I went to my natural remedies to nip it in the bud. I had an event I was speaking at in a few days and I didn’t want to have to ask the organizer to reschedule it, especially since the date had already been moved. This meant I had to heal quickly and the best remedy I know is sleep. I have to admit that this was the most I had ever slept for this year! One day, that’s all I did – no phone, no TV, and my laptop didn’t get turned on for anything more than to listen to my morning meditation audio.
I am feeling better. I wish that it didn’t take a summer flu (or aggressive seasonal allergies?) that got me to rest. I know better. I’m always talking about the importance of self-care, reminding people of the importance of taking care of yourself so that you’re at your best. I believe it’s the only way to give your best to others.
While I was in bed bonding with a couple tissue boxes, I felt like the shoemaker with no shoes. Why is it so easy to see what other people need to do yet so challenging to take my own advice? Busy isn’t something to brag about. We’re all busy. Being productive is something to celebrate. Getting the results we want becomes challenging when we’re running on fumes. We can’t give to ourselves or others from an empty cup. We have to find a way to recharge our mind, body and soul on a regular basis.
When we don’t make time for self-care, our bodies will step in and take charge. If we won’t give ourselves the rest that our body needs, the body will demand it in a way that we can’t refuse. Don’t wait for illness to sideline you. It’s okay to slow things down. Giving yourself the opportunity to reset, refresh and recharge is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. It gives you a chance to rest and start the next phase of the journey with clear eyes and a clear mind.
You may think that you can’t afford to slow down. The truth is you can’t afford not to! ♥