How Much Can We Do?

How much can we leave undone and be ok with it?

How “perfect” can we be?

Where do we “draw the line” on what we can do?

On a Thursday, I felt like I was semi-in-control of my life, so Friday relaxed and went with my husband to his weekly trek into Oklahoma to the cattle auction.  It was a good day.

My daughter from out of town would be coming over the weekend, so I needed to actually clean house a little, and prepare for what we’d eat while she was here.  She’s “easy” to prepare for; her family is open to enjoy whatever I make to eat, and it’s just a relaxing time.

But…

Somehow Saturday got away from me.  I can’t even remember what I got accomplished, except deciding to re-arrange furniture in the living room, which caused moving a bookshelf from the bedroom to the living room, and other miscellaneous projects.

But I do know, I did not get my ironing board (full of clothes draped on it) put away, and did not get my clothes folded. 

I did not get my floors vacuumed. 

I did not get my Sunday School lesson properly studied for the next morning! 

Plus a ton of other little things I didn’t get done.

Oh, well.  It’ll be ok.  I did get my groceries, and a few other odds and ends.  Just didn’t feel productive.

So, what happened next?

God blessed my work on my Sunday School lesson, and it was a great class on Sunday.

We got to enjoy both daughters and families for dinner.  I got to enjoy sitting up with them talking until late in the night.

We got to enjoy eating out on our deck, grilled steaks and listening to Farrell’s music, on a most beautiful day ever!

The ironing board (of clothes) never got put away. I just put it in the closet.  The last basket of clothes never got put away.  The floor never got vacuumed.  But who cared? No one.

In the week before this, we had had company for dinner twice and had spent time working in the garden.

So now, after everyone had gone home, and after the kitchen was cleaned, the clothes finally put away, and the clothes on the ironing board finally hung up… I realized how tired I was.

I’ve had extra appointments and extra classes this week, plus an after-church meeting Wednesday night.  There has been no room for rest.

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I know there are times in all of our lives that there just isn’t time or energy to do what needs to be done.

When this happens, almost always, we take any self-care time out of any routine we might have left.   This of course, makes us more frazzled.

Then, in my case, it also brings on cravings for food I shouldn’t eat!  So, yes, I ate the food.

I haven’t slept restfully, and my nights have been short.

I haven’t gone on my walks like I wanted to, and only exercised in short bits.

I caused myself extra stress by changing furniture around, plus other things that project caused.  It took my time away from things I needed to do (to make my life simpler to enjoy).

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Well, we’ll never be perfect.  And that’s totally OK!

But now it’s up to me to get myself back into some semblance of order (and peace).

And that’s what I’m doing today.  Resting.  Not pushing myself.  Going with the flow of how my day unfolds. 

Drinking less coffee—none in the afternoons! 

Getting outside a little bit.

Getting a relaxing walk in. 

Keeping water with me all day, whatever I’m doing.

Putting my phone down around 7 p.m.

I think I can do all that today.  I think I can take today to just do what fits into my day.  And if it doesn’t work smoothly doing that, it’s going to be OK!

We are our own first priority.  We just have to be.  How can we live our life if that’s not so?

If we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t have ourselves to take care of!

We can’t just “take the day off” any time we want to usually.  But we can re-arrange our day to put ourselves first.  And sometimes we just need to do that.  (Our life…and our peace…truly depends on it.)

Check in with yourself, and see what you need to keep on track with your life, so that you can have some peaceful, enjoyable time to live.  If you can’t do this, you’re going in the wrong direction.  Hopefully you can get yourself turned around.

Remember…For REAL…Your Life—and your Peace—Truly does depend on it—on turning yourself around.

So… when you get off-track, don’t stay there…Just slowly, calmly, turn around… and take one step back in the direction you want to go.

Be patient with yourself, and add a prayer to your efforts.  Change takes time.  And it’s not a simple, straight road.  You need to love yourself enough to

          Think of how you want your life to be…

          Believing change is possible for you …

          Be courageous… trust yourself.

          KNOW that at times, we just can’t get it all done.

          And be ok with that… find some enjoyment around it some way.

          And REST yourself.  Then…

          Make the changes… and just keep going!

          You can make it through those challenges; just remember how you want that life of yours to be, and determine to get there!  Imperfectly.

Thank you for reading, and

Let me know how I can help you.  It’s easy to get stuck.  I can help you set realistic, stretching goals; and I can help you re-plan if you need to, and to help you re-energize to get through the briar patches and the detours.

sharon@whereisyourcalm.com

(479) 234-2298

Sharon

Isaiah 40:31

…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, anew will walk and not be faint.

Matthew 11:28-29

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.