do you know the signs?

Hi there my fellow Work at Home Moms!! I’m so glad to be back with you!

I hope you’ve had a good day. Today was a rest day for me. Not because I didn’t have lots to do. But, because I am getting good at knowing the signs.

“What signs?” you may be asking yourself. Let me explain…

These are personal signs. Signs that I recognize. Signs that those closest to me recognize too. However, I went many a year without even being aware that there were signs.

You see, I have gone through most of my adult life addicted to hurry. That’s right…always having to be busy - and going at life at a bizillion miles-an-hour. Yes, there were lots of reasons for that…but I’ll save that for another post. About  6 years ago now, through a series of life events, I came face to face with my addiction. I had to face some of the consequences that this hurry-sickness was having on my life. And I began to make some changes. Finding a peaceful pace in my hurried world was my priority. Interestingly enough, as I began to make the changes, I had a new awareness…an ability to know the signs…the signs that tell me that it’s time to slow down; it’s time to rest for a while; it’s time to re-evaluate.

One thing I have noticed however, no matter how many changes we make to be intentional about keeping “a peaceful pace in our hurried world,” life still happens. There are unexpected things that pop up and need our attention; there are fun, family events that we want to be present to; there are problems that need our energy in solving. All of these these things can take time that we had not really planned to give when arranging our schedules.

I had a happy week last week. My oldest daughter, Jennifer, and I went wedding dress shopping  (for her dress…not mine!) on Thursday night. We arrived home well after 10 pm with the announcement that we had found “the dress.” The family scrambled to re-arrange our Friday night plans so that we could all go out to see “the dress,” get final approval from Dad, sister, and brother, and make the big purchase. Saturday morning found us on the road to spend the day with my Mom and Dad for my Mom’s birthday.  Sunday was a full day giving an extra hand to my hubby Alan, who is also a pastor.

I protect my evenings, and rarely am out late at night. But this past week, being out of the house late, and on the weekend for 2 full days, I found that by Sunday afternoon, I caught myself getting “short” with my answers. I found I was yawning almost every minute. I could feel impatience stirring up from within me from frustration of “tasks not complete” due to the events of the past few days. And I could also feel the tug to be by myself…everyone was “bugging” me.  The signs.

And I listen to the signs now.  I knew it was time to slow down. Time to spend some time on my own.

I didnt’ want to bore you with the details of my life last week. However, I did want to make these points.

 1.Recognize that it isn’t just the “stressful” things in life…the “crisis” that can set us off balance in life…it’s the fun, and happy things too.

 2. Make time in your schedule for the unexpected. Be sure that there is margin in your life to spend time with your family, and those who are important to you.

3.  Learn to recognize the signs. Your signs that tell you “enough is enough” or “it’s time to slow down.”

4. Take the time to slow down, to rest, to re-evaluate. That may mean setting your work aside for an afternoon; or going to bed an hour or so earlier; or taking the kids to the park for the morning; or going for dinner with your hubby; or turning off the TV and reading a favorite book instead.  Discover what it is that renews you, that rejuvenates and energizes you.

I challenge you today to become aware of “your signs.” It will help you find a peaceful pace in a hurried world!

kathy

www.kathybutryn.com      www.kathybutryn.typepad.com/blog    kathy@kathybutryn.com

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