Chill out already. Take a break. Put your feet up. Sit back and smell the roses (or whatever flowers you have nearby).
I don’t think there could be wiser words.
I believe the world is rampant with too much over-doing. I believe we all could – or at least I could – stand to take a break. A big break. A much deserved break.
I had a busy weekend. Last night we hosted a fundraiser at my home. It was wonderful and delightful and amazing. And a lot of work. Today was a mixture of getting rid of empty bottles and vacuuming up leaves that got tracked inside the house. All good but all tiring.
It’s time to take a break and chill out already.
I’ve recently found a community of children born and raised in the Church. I was astounded (for some strange reason) to hear stories that seemed so much like mine. “I thought that was just my mom,” I responded. “I thought that was just my weird thought.”
I realized (again) how much it was ingrained in me that all that I did was never enough and all that I gave was never enough. I was taught over and over (and over) to sacrifice more, work harder, shed tears and blood for God. No wonder I can have a hard time chilling out.
There is so much beauty that is mine for the taking, if I’ll just take it. There is so much joy and connection and splendor. There is so much peace and calm and ease. There is so much laughter and fun. As a child I learned that it’s wrong to make these simple pleasures a priority. As an adult I’ve learned that it’s wrong not to.
Chill out already. That is my mantra for today.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, and please share this post with others if it resonates with you!
In the equivalent, I say to myself “relax” whenever I find myself again in hurry. As Second Generation of the Church, we seem having developed a unique resistance to be ordinary. The ordinary life feels boring to me, and I am constantly looking for an excitement that could satisfy my heightened sensitivity for a special meaning or delight. So, I cannot relax. To me, relaxation means accepting the ordinariness of life. When I am so tired, sure, I would appreciate a resting state, but, such a state did not last long. I soon became bored and started being hurry again seeking some excitement or delight.
Lisa, what is the emotional state you seek when you try to chill out? Or, is it to simply stop seeking?
Thank you Ken for your thoughts. It makes sense that you’ve developed a resistance to ordinary. You were taught (I’m guessing) that you were not ordinary and that ordinary was not enough. I know I was taught that Second Generations, like you, were not ordinary.
I developed a strong knowledge that I wasn’t enough and that I could never do enough. There was always more I could give for God and always more that was needed from me. So when I look to chill out, I’m seeking a place of ease. Of less trying. Of less working so hard. Of less perfectionism. I guess it also is allowing myself space to simply stop seeking – for more, for better, for Truth, for answers. It’s allowing myself to just be and to let that be enough.
Thank you!
As a former Doer-of-Too-Much, I’ve learned there is great beauty in the ‘ordinary’ present moment, but it can be hard to recognize if that present moment is being compared to memories of the past or kept in the shadow of dreams of the future. To experience peace while raking leaves and quiet calm while putting away the dishes – instead of viewing such chores as tasks that must be completed in order to get on with the business of Living and Doing – required me to be fully present and accepting of the current moment as everything. There are still ups and downs, I’m sure there always will be, but I’m no longer sacrificing the present for a future that is just out of reach.
Sooooo beautifully put Dave. Thank you. It is a constant joyful journey for me as well. 🙂