It cracks me (and my sanity) up how stressful it can be to simply change locations. Seriously, we live such a comfortable and abundant life! For most people the concern is not hunting or gathering or shoring up our shelters… We are just trying to gather our gear and move (usually to another similarly comfortable location). I write this from a totally guilty perspective, as someone who finds leaving to be one of THE MOST STRESSFUL THINGS I DO! Does anyone else think leaving is the hardest part of the day??? In my quest for self-improvement, I am learning how to chill out, pack up, and go.
Yesterday, I took Annie and Noella to the outdoor pool in our district. It was a HUGE victory for me!!! We had SO much fun, burned off lots of energy, and I gave myself an ‘A’ for my packing/gear preparation. The best part was, I took many moments to simple appreciate being in the now with my kiddos.
My goal is to make all these leaving transitions FUN (or at the very least, feel doable). I want to be prepared AND appreciate our activities. So beyond making a list and checking it twice, here are some things I am doing to LEAVE PLACES WITHOUT LEAVING MY SANITY:
THINK AHEAD: I anticipate the order of events and what gear we will need. I focus on the basics like food, water, shelter, and clothing. Then I throw in some toys and treats to top it off.
GET HELP: Leaving can be fun, if you get excited for your next adventure WITH someone. Many hands make light work, and everyone can participate.
DO IT NOW: I find it is much easy to get ready at home or simply take a few minutes and do what needs to be done without apology. Planning to do something later is a waste of time. I prepare myself however I can as soon as an opportunity presents itself.
TAKE TIME: I used to say, “I’m going to the bathroom really quick”, but now I say, “I’m going to the bathroom”. It is a small verbal change for a big mental shift. There is no need to create a state of rushed panic in completing the tasks necessary to leave. Things usually take a certain amount of time whether we “hurry” or not, so why not relax a little? Of course, you can still be efficient while you take time to breath and get it done.
BE FULL INSTEAD OF BUSY: The most wonderful lesson I learned this week was to be full, not busy. I enjoy living an active lifestyle, so why claim it is stressful/busy??? We have a FULL LIFE and IT IS AMAZING! I am grateful and I intend to live in a state of thankfulness for our abundant blessings.
SCHEDULE LESS: I love flexibility, and I find one big outing a day is PLENTY. The less we do, the more we have time to appreciate the things we do. I also like to add buffer time and keep appointments approximate whenever possible.
PRACTICE: My daily life, just like yoga, is a practice. The systems I use get better and better as I continue to note the things that work and let go of my need to control everything. Deep breaths. Namaste. And let’s GO!
Love Always,
Meg
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