Things I learned this Spring… well, this school-year anyway

Take a close look at the pictures in today’s post.  Do you notice the change is color in the leaves toward the end of the branch?  I’m sure that it is not a new phenomenon this year.  I’m certain that it happens each spring as plants sprout new growth.  But this year, I can’t stop noticing it! It’s everywhere!

A year ago, I sat on the edge of something new, with a year in front of me.  A year for vastly larger margins, for supporting my guys in their changes and new endeavors, for re-centering our family and moving away from the feeling of simply inhabiting the same space, but not finding time to connect. 

I thought, at first, that the year would simply be a time to support them, but as I sit at the end of this year, I look back and see my own growth.  Nothing big, just small, consistent things.

In Emily P. Freeman’s book, “The Next Right Thing”, she encourages us to make a Life Energy List at the end of each season or project.  First list things that drained you, then list what felt life giving. 

Today, I’m sharing the Life-Giving part of my Life Energy list from this season away from the classroom and full-time work. 

1. A Silent Walk is Life-Giving.  We are inundated with sound all day – entertainment, voices in podcasts, people asking us what’s for dinner, emails trying to sell us something or convince us our lives aren’t quite complete without whatever it is they want us to buy.  But a quiet walk brings me back to center.  No music, no podcasts, not even a friend walking with me, no voices telling me I need more of anything.  Just me, eyes forward, ears resting, soul re-centering.  (A note: This unsolicited advice does NOT apply for every single walk.  I also love to walk with friends and music and a podcast.  But, listen to your soul.  When does it need to breathe?  Pinky promise that you will try it the next time you can’t think clearly or have had “a day”.)

2. Writing is Life-Giving.  As Dr. Seuss said, “Oh the thinks, that you’ll think!” We all have great thoughts and ideas to share.  Write them down! After my Gram passed away, we found years and years of her journals.  Some days, she just wrote the weather or a big news story of the day. But, somedays were records of important family events, births and deaths.  Mom and I have lamented she didn’t often write how she felt about those things, though.  Her journals were mainly factual.  Friends, write the things – journal what you are learning, how you feel about what’s happening in the world or your family, list things for which you are grateful.  You don’t have to think you are a writer, or that you have a special skill, you don’t even have to share it, just write. 

3. Changing Focus is Life-Giving.  When I am feeling all up in my head, with thoughts swirling into stress and anxiety, I know it’s time to do something else – to change my focus.  It could be serving someone, but it doesn’t have to be a big, planned event.  It can be simple – or even reactionary to something you know someone needs.  If you are in the middle of a huge project and feel stuck, walk away for a moment (set a timer!), and do something else – bake cookies, fold socks – maybe it is something creative or maybe something mundane.  But, walking away – forcing our senses to see, hear and do something else – can reset our minds and refresh us to see ways to get “unstuck”.

4. Conversations with friends are Life-Giving. Early on in this year away from full-time teaching, I realized time with friends, either one-on-one or in small groups, would be vital for me.  On weeks I didn’t have anything like this, I could feel my anxiety building and felt lonely even though I have my guys! Learn to know yourself.  Do you need time by yourself?  Do you need big groups of your people?  Or are you like me, and you need time with your small tribe?  Look at your schedule and build it in!

5. Biscuits with apple butter are Life-Giving.  While I can’t say this is totally new learning (carbs are my love language), I did find a local place that I love, love, triple love to go with friends.  A few friends and I have gotten to know the manager and she’s adorable.  Plus, the biscuits are homemade, from scratch, all day every day.  And they have this Maple Tap coffee that is heavenly.  If you’re local (or visiting the area this summer) look up Maple Street Biscuit Company and tell Emily that I sent you.

6. Embracing my curly hair is Life-Giving.  I fought it off and on all my life with brushes and straighteners and ponytails and hats, but this year I’ve learned to care for my curly-ish, wavy-ish hair.  It’s a whole new (easy!) routine and I’m diggin’ it. 

7. Video games are now written with backstories, lore and into comic books.  Who knew?  Not me.  But, my boy does.  And if you want the story, just ask.  He’ll fill you in. 

8.  Trumpets needs baths.  Having never played a brass instrument, I simply had no idea. 

What about you? How have you grown in this season? What evidence of that growth is visible to those around you?  I’d love to hear your story or read your learning list. Email me or put it in the comments below. 

Hugs and blessings – Bethany

PS: I asked William this question this week as he finished up his school year.  He easily rattled off his top learning:
1) The overall history of Rome, Greece and Egypt (he’s obsessed with this era)
2) How to play the trumpet (August’s “special sounds” really did turn into music by May)
3) Basic Algebra
4) David made some serious mistakes even though we see him as godly (Oh, how I pray he remembers this truth!)
5) You have to be a friend to make a friend, and there is always going to be someone you don’t like very much (HA! Yep! The foundation of relational truth, right here!)