Don’t Lose Your Footing

     I had been tired and feeling the need to press the pause button on my life. My obvious fatigue prompted my friend to insist I let her take the wheel a couple hours into our ten-hour trip to a recent conference. When we entered the conference grounds, we were given a card to hang in the windshield that read, Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest a while.*

     Sounded wonderful, but I had a full schedule ahead of me. For the next four days I was discombobulated and couldn’t get a foothold. I drifted through the conference.

     Ever feel like your brain just won’t work anymore? It’s like mine was crying out, “Leave me alone!”

     As I pondered and prayed (along with a bit of wisdom from my friend), I came to realize I haven’t been taking time out of my schedule for the things I love, just for the pure enjoyment of doing them – things like walking the beach and even blogging. When we’re constantly on, we end up overwhelmed and depleted. When we pause for a while and do things we love, it relaxes and refreshes us and brings us happiness.

     Where is your happy place? What are the things you love to do? When was the last time you paused life to do them?

     I only live a few miles from the beach, yet it had been well over a year since I was there. When I do take a walk, it’s around my busy neighborhood. And blogging has taken a back seat to a lot of other obligations.

     So I gave myself permission the first day home from the conference and went for a walk on the beach, where I was inspired to write this blog.

     Ahh, that salty sea breeze!

     As I stepped over the sandy threshold, seagulls seemed to welcome me as if to say, “Where have you been?” The sand squeezing up between my toes was just the massage I needed, and the sparkling sunshine across the ripping sea brought renewed light to my dulled soul.

He refreshes my soul…

Psalm 23:3 NIV

     I was even gifted with the performance of some playful dolphins showing off their dives.

     Why had I waited so long?

     What are you waiting for?

     Give yourself permission to do something you love today. You’ll be so glad you did. We all enjoy different things, and it’s important to take the time to do them, to step out of the whirlwind of life for a while and regain your footing.

     I’ve made a commitment to walk the beach twice a week. You are welcome to keep me accountable. (So far, so good!)

     I connected with that lone flip flop, for someone else had lost her footing, too.

     But I had found mine.