I found myself in a doctor's office last week, explaining patiently that my sleeplessness, racing heart and difficultly breathing could not possibly be anxiety. I didn't feel anxious, you see. I wasn't thinking anxious thoughts. It must be heart disease. (I had expertly come to this diagnosis from reading multiple internet sites.)
My very compassionate nurse practioner patiently explained back to me that our bodies react to stress lots of different ways. She asked me to list the things going on in my life. She wrote as I listed...and listed...and listed. "Stress at home. Stress at work, " she concluded. Note: Barry and I are fine. Truly. She was referring to graduation and all the related upcoming events.
Oh. Yeah. That stuff.
She did all the requisite blood testing, but I knew she was right. In fact, I felt better and lighter just walking out of her office knowing that I wasn't about to die of a heart attack during this busy season of life.
As I drove home, I started thinking about the past month. Let's see...Three speaking engagements. Doing some big things to take Next Step to the next level. Graduation coming up with all the activities and emotions involved. Pastor search comittee on end-of-assignment overload. Work. Work. Work.
That week at a meeting, a friend who was to join us texted that she would be late, because she was scrubbing buckets at her horse barn. I had the most visceral and irrational response of jealousy. "I wish I could scrub buckets at the horse barn," I thought. Actually, I don't want to scrub buckets, but I would like to week my garden or clean rings out of my toilet.
I pondered that reaction as I drove home, and I realized that I had been treating myself like a machine--something that didn't need nutritious food, sleep or rest of any kind. Silly. I realized that I had been making bad choices leading to all this pent up stress.
So the next day, I decided to give myself the day off. On a Friday...gasp! My friend Holly and I went on a 6 mile walk that was both exercise and therapy. I did some errands, but I didn't open my email. It was a wonderful day, and the simple choice of giving myself a break turned everything around.
I want to encourage you to let yourself be human today. God created you to enjoy Him and enjoy the life He's given. Choose at least one thing to do to feed your soul.
My very compassionate nurse practioner patiently explained back to me that our bodies react to stress lots of different ways. She asked me to list the things going on in my life. She wrote as I listed...and listed...and listed. "Stress at home. Stress at work, " she concluded. Note: Barry and I are fine. Truly. She was referring to graduation and all the related upcoming events.
Oh. Yeah. That stuff.
She did all the requisite blood testing, but I knew she was right. In fact, I felt better and lighter just walking out of her office knowing that I wasn't about to die of a heart attack during this busy season of life.
As I drove home, I started thinking about the past month. Let's see...Three speaking engagements. Doing some big things to take Next Step to the next level. Graduation coming up with all the activities and emotions involved. Pastor search comittee on end-of-assignment overload. Work. Work. Work.
That week at a meeting, a friend who was to join us texted that she would be late, because she was scrubbing buckets at her horse barn. I had the most visceral and irrational response of jealousy. "I wish I could scrub buckets at the horse barn," I thought. Actually, I don't want to scrub buckets, but I would like to week my garden or clean rings out of my toilet.
I pondered that reaction as I drove home, and I realized that I had been treating myself like a machine--something that didn't need nutritious food, sleep or rest of any kind. Silly. I realized that I had been making bad choices leading to all this pent up stress.
So the next day, I decided to give myself the day off. On a Friday...gasp! My friend Holly and I went on a 6 mile walk that was both exercise and therapy. I did some errands, but I didn't open my email. It was a wonderful day, and the simple choice of giving myself a break turned everything around.
I want to encourage you to let yourself be human today. God created you to enjoy Him and enjoy the life He's given. Choose at least one thing to do to feed your soul.
- Spend extra time reading a Psalm and sipping tea in a patch of sunshine.
- Take a walk and enjoy the spring flowers.
- Light a candle and put bubbles in your bath.
- Play a board game with your kids and laugh and laugh and laugh.
- Make a craft that you love but haven't taken the time to do recently.
- Read a great story.
- Sit on your porch and chat with a neighbor.
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1 comment:
Thanks for the beautiful reminder Amy! When life demands so much of us that gets our hearts racing and we realize it's not our health failing just our souls longing. I like to turn off the NOISE to the outside world (phones, TV, computer, etc.) and just being still and listening to the quiet revives my heart.
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