Resting Before the 1st

It's a good thing January 1st with all its newness and resolve is close at hand. I'm going to need that kind of impetus to drag me out of this slumbering lull I have fallen into since the beginning of Christmas break.

Because my kids are home and my husband has even taken off a couple of weeks from work, my schedule has changed drastically. I've not been getting up at my normal 6:30, blogging early or even getting my walk in on a regular basis. I've worked on my present writing assignments at the strangest times and always with interruptions. And I'm eating at something like 8:00, 2:00 and 8:00 instead of the normal 6:45, 11:30 and 6:00. I'm constantly surprised when I look at the clock and basically nothing seems to be getting done! Laundry is piling up and, unfortunately, I don't care enough to do anything about it consistently. It's slowly getting done, but the pile grows faster than it decreases.

All this to say, I have finally resolved myself to just "going with it!" So I'm taking a little break from my  normal life? Why is that a problem.? The answer is, it's not.

In fact, we all need a break here and there.

Just this past Sunday as my daughter and I drove home from the fast food place we had all stopped for lunch, 16-year-old Abby remarked, "Why is it that every Sunday at this time I feel like I need a nap? I don't take a nap any other day, but on Sunday afternoon I feel exhausted!"

I agreed with her assessment and offered something like, "Yeah, it's interesting. Maybe that's why God told us in the Bible to work for six days and rest on the seventh. I guess He knows what He's talking about."

Abby nodded in agreement, went home and climbed into her bed. We didn't see her for another two hours at least.

I have to admit, my favorite part of a hike is the resting points. Not just because I'm a bum at heart, but because it is often those places where you stop and take a break that you really appreciate where you are. You stop looking at where you're putting your feet (so you don't step on a snake or off a cliff) and you lift your eyes up to take in the scenery. You appreciate the cool breeze, you look behind you and see from whence you've come, and you pull out that bag of trail mix you've been looking forward to.


(This is my friend Kim resting on the AT. She's going to kill me for posting this picture, but she is demonstrating my present attitude perfectly.)


And so it is with life in general. When we have our noses to the grind, our schedule in full motion, and our focus on the next activity, we tend to miss the beauty of the moment. We grow exhausted easily, we get anxious over all that lies ahead, we become so focused on our pursuits that we neglect the scenery.

January 1st usually propels me to set a few new goals, reaffirm my work ethic, tackle life with renewed vigor and buckle down with new determination to finish that which I've left undone. But for another day or two, I'm taking in the scenery, breathing in the fresh air, and munching on whatever strikes my fancy. That translates to playing games with my husband and son, watching movies with my daughter, eating potato chips and dip (something I NEVER eat), going to bed late and rising after seven in the morning. My walks may or may not happen.

As for the laundry? I might better throw in a load or two just so we can all at least smell good while we're breathing in the fresh air!

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