Hello everyone,
It’s been a while. There is a reason for that.
Being human can be and often is exhausting. There are SO many things we need to get done just to keep our everyday lives running smoothly, not to mention the fact that we are often called upon to get things done for so many others as well. The sheer grind can wear the best of us down, leaving us little room for that feeling of freedom that we so often cherish when we take holidays or simply take a day off from the routine.
There are so many routines in life. Going to work, sorting through client records, preparing dinner, cleaning the house, paying the bills, dealing with emails and the list goes on. Routines allow us to create structure and predictability in our lives. They allow us to feel safe. Without routines, there would be too much uncertainty in life and everyday functioning would slow down. But sometimes we all need a break – a little time out for our selves, a mental holiday, to day dream.
What I find most challenging about these little ‘holidays’ from the normal routine is that they can come up at the most inappropriate times, leaving us with no energy for the project we have been working on or the everyday minutia of life that we usually do without thinking about them too much. Often the ‘bad timing’ of these is more stressful than actually taking the time we need to regroup.
But sometimes we ALL need a break.
And so that is what I have been doing, taking a break, mentally.
Believe me when I say that even typing this causes a bit of anxiety and an uncomfortable feeling inside me that somehow I am falling off track and not being disciplined enough with myself to push through. The constant and relentless need to concentrate on what I perceive to be more pressing than my own well being and downtime – like getting courses and dates up on the website for 2020 or creating a constant stream of social media posts ready to schedule, has at times led me to a deep and abiding sense of tired that a good sleep won’t fix. Everyone feels like this sometimes.
As I get older I think about these things more – I reflect on where I have been, where I am now and where I want to be as I move forward hoping to age with grace and wisdom. I recently turned fifty and took that as an opportunity to review what is important to me moving forward. How do I take the learning and wisdom that I have gained in the previous fifty years and use those to enhance and fulfill the years in front of me? I came up with three things that I thought I would share with you, as I already shared them with guests at my birthday celebrations – personal realizations that I think will stand me in good stead for those times when I am feeling tired and need a break. In some way these little bits of experience are helping me to slow down, take stock and just stop when I need to.
In a nutshell they are:
- The ‘moment’ is now – enjoy it, embrace it, be there – what ever it is teaching you or showing you, the only guarantee you have is this moment right now – do not waste it.
- Slow it all down – Ahhh permission to simply be – no explanation needed.
- Bend before you break- stop when you need to, take a walk, take a breath, take a day or week off, be kind to yourself because life won’t always be – watch how nature weathers storms and then reasserts itself once the storm is over – that one is my new motto for everything that happens in my world from now on and quite possibly my favorite of the three.
I am working on attaining or moving towards these little gems in everything I do. And so I will take that day or hour to stop, I will walk more slowly and breath more deeply and I will remember that every moment I am here is precious because I know it can all be over so quickly too.
And so from me to you this is where I have been and why you haven’t heard from me in a while.
It’s okay to bow out occasionally and take stock, it’s okay to stop. Being a body worker or massage therapist is physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting sometimes. Check in with yourself and really see how you are feeling. Just like the tides, the moon and many other cycles of nature we as human have our cycles too. Maybe it is time to honor yours and see what beautiful and profound experiences occur when you take some time for you?
You are not alone – but sometimes we all feel like we might be.
And remember that as hard as it is to be human, there are billions of other people who feel the same.
Most of all take care out there and enjoy what you do – and when you stop enjoying it, take some YOU time 😉
Michelle
