More Than This

Hello loves!

It's been a while. I hope everyone's been having a restful summer! I've certainly been trying to take more opportunities to slow down and relax. To go outside in the sun, (even though it's been a million degrees) take a deep breathe and just appreciate being alive.

I feel like we don't do that enough. I know I don't. But it's important that we do.

Over the last few weeks, I've kind of been in a weird in-between place. A lot of the personal projects I've been involved in are now in the "waiting-to-hear" back phase which isn't a fun place to be when you're used to being busy all the time. It's exciting initially, because you're now on the next step. But when the days drag into weeks and you're still stuck without a timeline of when you can move forward, it can wear you down.

I felt lost, if I'm honest. Here were these things I've been working hard on, spending so much time after work to achieve and now I'm just. . . waiting? On something entirely out of my control? Yeah, not a fan.

I started to feel restless and like I was "wasting time," even though there was nothing I could do to speed up the process. I had this misconception that since I hadn't accomplished what I wanted, yet, then I shouldn't spend any free time not working on my goals.

It sounds worse looking at it typed out then in my head.

After understanding why I was feeling so out of sorts, I decided to change something. I took a step back and forced myself to spend some time not working and just being. I wouldn't let myself feel guilty for not working on a project every spare second of the day. And when a whole 24-hours passed and I hadn't done anything to "progress," the world was still spinning.

I've had a better balance since those last few weeks, a balance that recognizes that humans are not machines. We are not made to work non-stop with no breaks. We are not made for the tedious drum of "go to work, go home, go to work, go home" with sleep as the only breather.

Humans are complex. We were designed to be in community, to have fun and laugh, to take holiday breaks, throw festivals and parties, to enjoy the natural world around us and recharge spiritually. We were supposed to live, not just exist or survive.

Now, I'm not saying that no one should work ever. Honestly, I think most people would go a little crazy not having something to do. But I don't think work should be the crushing, sweat-inducing, life-sucker it's become. A job can be challenging at times, absolutely, but that should never be because it's making you work 10 hours or more with the smallest "lunch break." Work shouldn't value the bottom line over employees and view those with good work-life balance as lazy or not-committed.

Life shouldn't be boiled down to a dreary, fluorescent-lit existence in a tiny beige box surrounded by screens and barely making enough to survive.

Life was meant to be lived. To be enjoyed with our loved ones, to do things we actually care about, to see all that's out there in this great, beautiful world, and to act with kindness and hope and love.

So, all that to say, make sure to take time for yourself. Take those vacation days, don't stay late, take a walk outside, make the time for your people, and remember that you were made for something wonderful.

Love y'all <3

"Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind."--Ecclesiastes 4:5-6