Margins. White space. Priorities. It all sounds great until it meets FOMO. That, my friends, is the intersection at which I sat last weekend. There were four things I thought I’d really like to do over the weekend, but Friday afternoon hit like a concrete truck and I knew, in truth, I needed to rest. My little family of three needed less go and more stay. We needed less loud and more quiet. Staying and quiet won. By Sunday evening, I knew we’d made the best choice.
This idea of “un-rushing”, purposefully slowing down so you aren’t barreling through life at break-neck-speed, beckons my heart. Over and over it calls me to still my body, so in turn I can allow God’s mercies to still my soul.
When we notice our calendars too full, feel our shoulders begin to rise, our breath becomes shallow and our minds race, consider one of these ways to turn toward a slower pace. They work for me, and perhaps, will work for you, too.
Take a walk.
Lace up your walking shoes, open the door and breathe in the fresh air. Those of you that are regular readers and close friends know my story. A new job. A growing too fast boy playing a new sport. Early mornings. New routines. So, unfortunately, these quiet walks were one of the first things I cut out to accommodate the new demands on my time. This cut was not a good idea! My mind and heart have missed the quiet time, and my body has missed the activity. This weekend, I fit one in. It was long and hot and worth every drop of sweat.
Connect with a friend.
A friend and I have been trying to connect in person for weeks. We made it happen this weekend. Can I remind you of something we already know? Eye contact, proximity, and voices impact how close we feel to someone. We talked through more subjects than texting allows, laughed together, and shared hardships. I left with a lighter heart. Not to be bossy, but the next time you have a minute to scroll through social media, consider hopping over to your texts and setting up a time to meet up with someone in person.
Braindump.
Shelby Abrahamsen, at LittleCoffeeFox.com – https://littlecoffeefox.com/brain-dump/ – writes my favorite definition of a brain-dump. She says it is, “simply the act of dumping all the contents of your mind onto paper as one might dump the contents of a purse onto a table.” She likens all the swirling thoughts in our minds to a tornado (isn’t she RIGHT?!), then once they are written they become more defined and can’t circle back around and hit us again. Once you’ve written the brain-dump, then you can sort it into lists if that helps, journal further on a topic, decide what action needs to be taken, or just walk away and come back to it later.
Slow down and smile.
Focus on your senses. Notice the things you see, hear, smell. Inhale. Exhale. Pull your shoulders down. Straighten your back and lift your head. Clench and release a muscle group like your hands. Then, smile. By taking control of our bodies in this way, we can reverse our stress responses.
Worship and praise God for the things He’s done.
In Luke 17, Jesus tells the story of ten men suffering from leprosy. When they asked for mercy, Jesus sent them to the temple and along the way they were healed. But, when one of the men saw he was healed, he doubled back. He fell facedown and thanked Jesus for the healing. Friends, let’s be the one. Let’s be the one who thanks the Lord for what He’s done and what He’s doing.
When margins meet FOMO, how do you choose? What are some things you do to slow down? Anything I should try?
Hugs and blessings, Bethany