Love Learn Lead May 25, 2017

I am not sure if it is the spring weather, or the page I am on right now, but I can’t help but feel like I am in a season of making space. Whether cleaning out cabinets in our apartment or leaving unplanned time in my schedule—I feel like I am in a place where I need to pay attention to my life and what God may be preparing me for. And though from the outside my life may seem rather simple and uncluttered, I know there are spaces that are filled with unnecessary things. So today, I am sharing a way that I am paying attention, what I am learning from cutting back on something in my everyday, and a quote that has me thinking about my approach to life.

Whether you are doing your own spring cleaning—physically or emotionally—or you are in the thick of a busy season, I pray these thoughts help you pause today. Then I hope they empower you to make the choices that are right for you in this season.

Love

I have a confession to make: I love scrapbooking. Something that I used to think,“Ain’t nobody got time for that,” and something I thought older women did—is now something I love. Part of it is because—whether for a day or ten days, whether the destination is the next state over or across the ocean—Tony and I love going on adventures. Also Tony is a photographer—so between his camera and our phones, we’re always taking photo’s.

We have so many photo’s.

And sure, I could use an online photo store and make a book that they’ll print for me, but I am finding I am loving the physical process of it. Cutting up paper, matching colors, and attaching saved tickets or menus to pages with the corresponding photo’s, feels therapeutic for some reason. Add in writing little facts about our trips (who we met, the food we tasted, crazy rain, etc.), and it feels like another way of telling our story. So whether it is cool or uncool, I am loving scrapbooking these days.

What are you loving?

And what creative ways are you telling your story?

Learn

As I shared on Monday, my husband and I have been working on being a little more disciplined when it comes to our daily schedule (a committed exercise schedule, “no TV” nights, a set bed time, etc.). I also shared that we are being more rigid in these areas of our life in hopes of creating space for the things that are most important to us (our creative endeavors among them). Surprisingly, this process is making me think more deeply about how we restore emotionally and creatively.

For example: We used to unwind after a day of work and writing, by siting in front of the TV. Sometimes, we’d grab our dinner, sit on the couch and turn on one of our shows—then keep it on until we went to bed. For about four hours we’d just sit there and numb out. But now that we’ve set aside at least three nights a week where we don’t turn on the TV, I am discovering there may be better ways to recharge.

When we used to watch TV for hours, our brains got a break. But after, they didn’t necessarily feel ready to think new and exciting thoughts. They felt more like how you feel after waking up from anesthesia, than how one feels after a really good night’s sleep. But now, when watching TV is not an option, I spend more time doing other creative things—like reading and scrapbooking—and after, my brain feels more rejuvenated.

Often when we feel burned out on life, on producing, and on creating—we think the answer is to just power down. But I am finding that when I turn towards less urgent, more fun and creative endeavors—without the pressure of a necessary outcome—I refill in a sense. My creative and emotional exhaustion doesn’t gets worse, rather it gets better. Though we still have our TV nights from time to time, it is our evenings without it that is strengthening me for the things I truly want to accomplish.