Photo Credit: PaulBica/Creative Commons
Hi, friends! I hope your summer’s off to a terrific start! If you’re not there yet–take heart. There are brighter days ahead. God’s promised this.
We’re a little rain-drenched over our way, but I’m not complaining because this time last year we were in the middle of a terrible drought. (And before we go any further, let’s send up a prayer for the great state of Colorado! Heavenly Father, may you rain down showers of blessing on those who have lost homes and those who are in harm’s way because of the forest fires…)
Life’s a bit hectic just now. My office redo is slowly taking shape. My mama continues to recover from surgery, though she’s made great strides. I’ve also started a few new projects and this is the time of year that plans for the ACFW conference kick into full swing. (I’m looking forward to seeing many of you there!)
For some of you, life isn’t just “busy” and filled with “must-do’s.” Rather, life has become a state of fits and starts. You may be wondering how to balance the scale. How to tune out the static, decrease the noise, and accomplish more.
I sometimes wonder this myself.
There are always things competing for our time. I don’t know that this ever changes. What I’ve come to realize (be it through maturity, God’s grace, or perhaps, both) is that I’m not Superwoman. Some stuff is just not going to get done in the time frame I wish it would. The more pressure I place upon myself, the more resistant my spirit becomes to the idea of push, push, push. Or do. Be. Achieve.
If you are a writer or a creative, you well understand the dilemma. Our minds never turn off. Never shut down. And we have to be careful not to cave under the weight of our own expectation.
Unless we stay grounded (yes, I wrote a post about that), we may have the tendency to veer course. Question ourselves. Wonder if our goals, dreams, and aspirations are worth it.
I recently talked with someone who was experiencing preliminary burn-out. (And no, she’s not a writer.)
She made this observation:
“I almost have everything I always dreamed I would. The job. The car. The house. Prestige. And then I got to thinking…of everything I’d sacrificed to ‘arrive.’ Was it worth it? I don’t know. That’s the $10 million dollar question. Society tells us we should flaunt our accomplishments like badges of honor, but have you ever noticed all the lives that are riddled with regret because of them?”
Wow.
Her words, and the intensity with which she spoke them, moved me. I’ve replayed them a dozen times in my mind. Especially the “…lives that are riddled with regret because of them” part.
While I could appreciate what she said (because I do think there’s a kernel of truth there to some degree), I also sensed the conflicting emotion. Pride mingled with unworthiness.
This woman knew where she’d been and where she was now. She’d worked hard, kept her goal before her, and achieved great things. Along the way, she’d developed stamina and endurance. And she’d become a survivor. Despite this, she couldn’t seem to reconcile it with the notion that maybe her life was a fluke. That her accomplishments and accolades were out of whack with what she actually deserved.
I think we see this mindset in folks who’ve worked their socks off too hard, too long, and without significant breaks. They’re so busy plowing the field, they forget to revel in the harvest.
What I’ve learned is this:
Even during our busiest seasons, there are brighter days ahead. And prayerfully, we’ll have the discernment to realize that those “brighter days” are well-deserved and God-intended!
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Are you bogged down with busyness?
Do you ever feel undeserving of success?
What says “I’ve arrived” to you?
Photo Credit: PaulBica/Creative Commons
Blessings Always,
Comments 10
I’m having a summer rest and I’m forcing myself to do it b/c yes, the writer mind never shuts down. But I know it’s a good time for me to take a rest. As my hubby says, “Knowing is half the battle.” lol
Miss you!
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Jess, three cheers for summer AND rest! (Yes, I’m taking snatches of recup time, too. I need it. Family needs it.)
And gal, I miss ya right back! (See you soon though!) 😉
Cynthia:
Thank you for praying for Colorado. Even as we reel from the reality of almost 500 homes destroyed, we are thankful that the firefighters are gaining on the wildfire.
And yes, busy-ness invades and overtakes goals … and disrupts the desire for rest.
And then something like a wildfire happens — the ultimate unexpected crisis. And underneath it all I find … peace.
Which makes me realize that there is something to my faith. Something not man-made. Something not me-made. God is truly the stability of of my times.
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Beth, prayers continuing!
You’re so right–He is our anchor!
Cynthia, you have perfect timing with this topic! I just came back from a 3-day escape with my father to Mystic, CT. It was the worst of times because I “should have” stayed home to work on my writing, but it was the best of “the best of times” because I got away from my every day routine and mindset and feel so refreshed and recharged again. All this shows me that God is behind every second of our lives, the best Navigator possible!
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Elaine, so true! It’s awesome that you were able to put aside that “shoulda” for quality time spent with your dad! Recharging was just what you needed…
Now…onward and upward with your writing! Go, go, go!
I’m reading this post a few days late, but wow, it resonates. I spend too many days buried in busyness. And part of me knows I’m just in a busy season now…and it will pass…and all will be fine. It’s a good busyness, really…
But I don’t want to let all the “stuff” keep me from enjoying each day. I’m trying to get better about taking breaks and just enjoying things…even if it’s something as chatting with a friend on facebook or enjoying a glass of iced tea on a balcony. 🙂
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Melissa, just savoring “the moment” is sometimes the hardest thing for us to do. I don’t know why. I think life just creeps in sometimes, and it’s easy to caught up in the fast track of all that’s expected versus what is truly necessary.
Sending you a mid-morning hug to kick-start your afternoon. (((hug))) There. Feel the love? = )
I “arrived” when I found peace, no matter the circumstances.
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Patti, you just choked me up! (((hugs)))