This has been one of the busiest summers of my life. If I'm making excuses, I would definitely say I've had plenty of distractions to keep me from writing:
- two classes for my Masters of English
- trip to Chicago with Andy
- trip to Washington D.C. and NYC with my eighth graders
- trip to Boston with my cousin Seth
- trip to Orlando for a work conference (and of course Disney was involved)
- work meetings
- family reunion
- tutoring at an ACT/SAT prep center
- wrecked/totaled car
- bought new car
- two 20+ page papers
- youth group events
- weekends traveling to see friends
- etc. etc. etc.
Now that the list is put into words, I'm a little shocked at how much I did. I love traveling and staying busy, but this was TOO MUCH. How could I possibly expect to function, to stay grounded and connected, when I filled my time to this extreme?
Where does this drive come from to always have to be doing something?
The school year starts again next week. At one of our leadership meetings, my principal asked what we did this summer to rejuvenate. In that moment, I felt as though I had crashed into a wall. What did I do to rejuvenate? Everything I did was go, go go.
It was a sobering moment.
Despite my life seeming to pick up with going back to work, starting after school programs, running meetings, teaching two classes, taking one Masters class, working in the office, etc., I am honestly glad to get back into a routine.
My goals for the 2018-2019 school year:
- Spiritual growth
- Read through the New Testament
- Be intentional to not be religiously busy but spiritually present
- Self-care
- Take/MAKE time to exercise and strengthen my body
- Read a couple of the books on my shelf that I enjoy and have been sitting there gathering dust since I impulsively bought them from Barnes & Noble
- Get a haircut - it's been all summer, and this rats' nest is OFF THE CHAIN
- Sit in my hammock
- Be present
- Take walks with Andy before work
- Make Saturday morning breakfast a priority
- Fold & PUT AWAY the laundry
- Sit and talk to my grandparents
- Spend more time with my in-laws
- Get lunch with my mom more often
- Eat more Mexican food with my aunt
That's a long list.
In order to accomplish any of those things, my main goal has to be to be LESS BUSY.
I need to slow down and savor my life.
After all, it is almost PSL time. What better time to be alive and curl up with a good book or go for a walk?
