Love Learn Lead June 22, 2017

A few weeks ago, my husband was given the opportunity to work remotely for a week, so that in his off hours he could work on his photography. Off to Maine we went (the perks of being a writer—I can go too!), for a week of work and adventure. When we weren’t hovered over our laptops—Tony in the kitchen of our rental, and me at the cafe down the street— we were climbing the rocky coastline of Acadia National park, breathing in the fresh salty air of the ocean, and quickly hiking up the North Bubble, for a sunset shot. All of this reminded me of two things that always seem to revive my soul: going away, and being near the ocean.

(For a glimpse of our trip, click here)

This week is all about figuring out ways we can create space for ourselves this summer to recharge and revive ourselves—body, mind, and soul. Here are a few things that have helped me:

Love

I love the ocean. As I shared above, it has a powerful way of filling me that is hard to describe. I am not sure if it is because I grew up near the beach, and learned at a young age that it is a good place to pray. Or that the sound of the waves have a way of easing any inner conflict I may be feeling. But I can tell you, I feel closer to God when I am near the vast and powerful ocean. It seems to remind me of how small I am in this world, and how big God is.

Now that I live (too) far from the ocean, I have found that looking for other places of peace and beauty to be still, and to recharge, are crucial to enabling me to bring my best self to my people and to my work. Sometimes those places are hiking trails, other times it’s a chair in our apartment.

What places of peace and beauty can you go to, to recharge?

Learn

“I hope that you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you are not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”

—F. Scott Fitzgerald

On Monday I talked about the importance of making space in our lives to rest and sometimes even redirect our journey. But if you are living the way I have in the past—saying yes to too many things and cramming as much into your life as possible—it can be hard to stop, even just for an afternoon or a week. That is why, on my own journey, I have found it helpful to look for guides to help me live a slower, and more thoughtful life.

An honest and valuable guide in this area, is Shauna Niequist and her book, Present Over Perfect. In it, she shares the above quote from Fitzgerald, and her own story of slowing down her frantic life, “for a simpler, soulful way of living.” If you find yourself feeling a little frayed around the edges and in need of some rest, following Shauna’s journey will help you begin to have courage to make changes to your own.

Are you in need of some space in your life?

Who are the guides that will help you on your journey?

Lead

“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.”