Tag Archives: life rhythms

What are you missing?

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Living life unhurried is not easy.

A few months ago, I committed to spending three hours a week reading, reflecting and writing. It has already been a struggle, but so far I have been able to enjoy that time most weeks.

When I am trying to develop a new habit, it helps me if I remember WHY I am trying to make the change.

I discovered an excellent WHY video while I was researching content for the “31 Days of Unhurried Living”. I never tire of watching this video, and it continually motivates me to unhurry my life.

Kimi Werner is a champion freediver and spearfisher. She has learned an important lesson that is valuable for us also.

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CLICK HERE to watch the video. If you are in a hurry 🙂 , just watch the first part (0:00-4:20). It really is worth your time. The video continues – and it is all good – so watch the full recording when you have time!

These are the questions that came to my mind after watching Kimi’s video. They help me to remember WHY I want to live unhurried. How would you answer them?

What do you miss when you speed up?

What might you experience if you were to slow down?

An unhurried 2018

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2017 is gone and 2018 is here – ready or not!

I am feeling mostly not ready.

We had a wonderful Christmas break with all of our children coming in for about a week together. It was a marvelous time of playing tourist, silliness and laughter, too much food, deep conversations, and sharing dreams for the future. I am very grateful for each of them and for their love and appreciation for each other.

Now that everyone has gone home, I have come down with a cold and cannot get to my “to-do” lists like I had hoped… and as much as I don’t like this, I think it is a good thing. It is actually the perfect way for me to start the year.

Unable to hustle. Needing to rest. 

Every time I attempt a few tasks, I end up feeling exhausted and find myself taking some time with my feet up under a blanket with a cup of hot tea in my hand. Not my normal. Not my preference.

Unhurried.

I am tempted to feel guilty and discouraged. There are so many things I want to get done during my vacation days. But this is exactly what unhurried living is all about – being OK with the rhythms of life – some active days and some slow days. Some productivity and some time to rest and re-charge.

My activities do not define my value or my identity.

John Ruskin writes, “In our whole life-melody the music is broken off here and there by ‘rests’… God sends a time of forced leisure, sickness, disappointed plans, frustrated efforts, and makes a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives… Not without design does God write the music of our lives. But be it ours to learn the tune, and not be dismayed at the ‘rests’.”

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So, I am starting off this year with the ideal practice scenario for learning to trust God to write the life-melody for my 2018.  I look forward to feeling better soon, but for now I want to be at peace with my rest and enjoy the music of His design.

Here’s to an unhurried 2018!

What might be the “rests” in your life? How are you learning to live unhurried this year?

 

on the (bike) path of life

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Reflecting on a ride…

It was a warm very hot, sunny day in Orlando. We were ready for a new adventure, energized and enthusiastic… and a little unsure of how it would turn out in the end. We had done our homework: asking questions of the “experts”, researching on Internet, and preparing our equipment. We had a trail recommendation, map directions, snacks and water in our bags, and air in our tires.

IMG_0552Preparation is wise and helpful,
but it does not guarantee ease or success.

Off we went. The sights were beautiful – shade trees, flowers, benches and wooden bridges. We followed the path signs, passed lakes and luxury homes, schools and parks; we crossed streets and highways.

Life isn’t usually a 1/4 mile round track.
It is a cross-country journey;
for each one – different, unique, valuable in its own way.

We rode along mostly side by IMG_0507side, as is our preference. Sometimes one of us rode out it front, setting the pace. On some stretches, we passed others who walked, jogged, or rode more slowly. At other places, we were the ones who ceded to riders who passed us by.IMG_0608 IMG_0382

Life is a journey of ebb and flow, rhythms, and sharing the road together.

Some folks called out “good morning” or “hello”; others were quiet or distracted with their own thoughts, music, or life situation. Some rode with children; some walked with friends, others walked with pets. A rich community.

Life isn’t meant to be lived alone.
Whether we have a few special friends or many important relationships,
we need company along the way.

There were flat parts and then hills to climb. There were almost-out-of-control downhill inclines, sharp curves, and IMG_0609bumps. One short stretch was “off-road”, rocky, washed out and rutted.

Life has many experiences along the trail, breaking the monotony,
adding variety, mixing times of challenge and rest.

At the end of the ride, we were worn out and tired – but IMG_0376accomplished. I see this in my mom’s life as she is nearing the end of her journey. So much energy and enthusiasm at the start; wearniness now with a sense of completion and satisfaction, and peace.

Where are you on your life path? How are you doing on your ride?

a personal Rule of Life

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myRuleWhat are your weekly priorities? Do you have them written down? How do you ensure that you reach your goals? Do you have a healthy routine for your life? Through the years, I have heard people talk about their “bucket list” or their New Year’s resolutions or their “one word” for the next year. Other people develop a personal mission statement or a personal development plan. All of these tools are excellent. The key is to actually take the time to think about your dreams and desires, and then to make a plan. Another important factor can be to have some accountability. Sharing the plan with another person is a great step towards actually accomplishing it.

For my M.A. class this summer, I had to write a personal Rule of Life. Very similar to the other ideas, this Rule requires a reflective time of self-evaluation, a list of action steps, and an accountability plan. I spent about a week thinking about it and just an hour or two writing it out… not a huge investment of time, but I already feel more focused and organized… with hope that I will do what I have included on my list.

1. I first took some time to think about how God has made me… my personality, my interests, my strengths and my weaknesses, and my particular stage of life. What do I care about and what do I need to keep me encouraged and healthy, and to help me grow and develop.

2. Then I thought about some of the basic areas of life – physical, intellectual, relational, and spiritual – and I chose one to three life rhythms or disciplines that I want to be a norm in my life. I chose a few things like time to think and exercise and develop new friends and community for our new home. Because I am not sleeping well at night these days, I added going to bed by a certain hour, hoping to achieve better rest. All in all, I chose ten items for my Rule. Nothing earth shattering or new or overly challenging… just healthy patterns.

3. I chose two people to ask me about different items on my list. Knowing that they will be encouraging me and/or joining me in some of my goals, motivates me.

One last step I copied from a website with lots of information about personal Rules. I collected photographs that remind me of each of the items on my list and created a visual reminder of my goals. It just takes a quick glance to help me focus my day and encourage me to make the best use of my time with good choices. You might notice that writing on this blog is one of those regular rhythms I want to continue, so I am already making progress!

How about you? What kind of plan or Rule might be helpful for you? Feel free to share any ideas or tips you have!

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You can find more resources for a personal Rule of Life at:

CS Lewis Institute

RuleOfLife.com website

Chittister, Joan (2013) Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today.