Stop, To Move Forward

Raise your hand if you feel like you're always running.  Days are planned to the minute with work and activities and stuff to do.  If there's a hole in the agenda, it's immediately filled with something from the to do list.

It seems we've almost gotten addicted to the idea of being "busy".  I know I have.  A few years ago, I was feeling depressed and anxious.  There were many days when I didn't want to do anything.  I accomplished the most minimal of tasks, doing only what I had to do to get by.

Now, I'm feeling better and excited about the future.  And I want to seize every moment, to make up for the time I lost.  Which means I'm constantly working  to further my hopes and dreams.  Trying to be more organized, more productive, more everything.

But sometimes you have to stop for a minute, in order to keep moving forward.

Last weekend we had nothing on the calendar.  Not a single appointment, activity, or to-do was on the schedule.  I woke up on Saturday morning, worked out, showered and then thought...now what?  I immediately consulted "the list", trying to decide what to tackle first.

And then....I took a seat.  Maybe I just needed to stop for a bit.  

Which is what I did.  I read an entire book.  Got outside and took a few walks.  Watched shows that were piling up on the DVR.  I think I even took a nap.  I didn't meal plan, schedule plan, or plan anything, really.

At first I was restless and almost guilty.  Feeling bad about relaxing?  I really had gone too far.

By Sunday evening, I realized how wonderful it had been.  I felt rested and rejuvenated and ready to tackle the world.  

The rest of the summer is looking pretty busy, and I don't see another quiet weekend for a while.  But that's okay.  I stopped, and now it's time to move forward.