Tag Archives: rest

Life is better savored.

Posted on by
3

uhl09

I love this beautiful photo taken by my amazingly talented photographer daughter. Even a quick glance at the majestic mountains, rolling hills, pine trees, and green grass makes me take in a slow deep breath and relax in my soul just a little bit.

The photo reminds me of trips when the scenery around us took our breath away and, even if we had an arrival deadline, we could do nothing less than slow down and enjoy the incredible beauty.

savor. the. moment.

THINK ABOUT IT:

Is a book better if you speed read it, or if you take your time and get lost in it?

Is a song better if you skim through it, or if you take the time to really listen?

Is the view better from the window of a speeding car, or if you take time to pull over to the scenic overlook?

Is your conversation with a friend better if you have a rushed meeting interrupted by your emails and text messages, or if you can relax and really focus on the person?

Today as I write, I remind myself that I do not need to travel far away to savor a moment (although that is really nice when it’s possible!).

Just this week I had an opportunity to savor the aroma of fresh vegetables roasting in the oven – a special treat meal created by my daughter. I had a few minutes to walk out on the back porch and feel the gentle breeze and the warm sunshine on my face. I enjoyed my coffee while it was still hot. I put my phone away and intentionally engaged in a refreshing and invigorating coaching appointment.

The moments to savor are everywhere around us.
We just need to see them.

I confess I also missed many opportunities this week to savor the moment: I ate on the run. I forgot details discussed with my husband because my eyes were glancing back distractedly at my notifications. I gave up reflective time for another appointment and did not reschedule it in my calendar.

Savoring must be intentional.

Today I am going to remember that gorgeous mountain photo in my mind and intentionally keep my eyes open to what I can savor.

What can you take time to savor today?

Where is your white space?

Posted on by
3

Photo by Sarah Dorweiler on Unsplash

Henry Cloud is one of my favorite teachers and authors. I began reading his books many years ago, and I now grab every new one he publishes as soon as it comes out. I have written a few summaries of his books on this blog (see links below). Now that I think about it, I may write some more this year!

Recently, I read a short post by Henry Cloud on the Global Leadership Summit (GLS) blog (which is a great blog, by the way!). Henry was talking about the importance of having WHITE SPACE (or rest) in our life.

too much stuff + too long = overwhelmed and tired brain

Henry was endorsing the valuable research and work done by a woman named Juliet Funt. Juliet spoke at the GLS, and you can find some excellent short video clips of her ideas on YouTube. Her company, WhiteSpaceAtWork.com, helps organizations reduce their busyness, schedules and digital habits so that people can be more engaged and creative at home and at work.

Research has shown that the highest performers in life
have a pattern of not being “on all the time.”
Henry Cloud

Juliet shares some great tips for protecting the WHITE SPACE in our schedules:

  • Take some thoughtful time and inventory your motives for saying yes.
  • Try to separate the emotional (the enjoyment of being asked) from the practical (will this opportunity truly move your goals forward?).
  • Attempt to mentally envision and realistically consider all of the inevitable to-dos and busyness of the time around the date of the request.
  • Make “No” your default answer. Let “less” be your guiding principle. You will  never regret having too much time.

Which of these tips could you apply in the next few days to find some WHITE SPACE in your week?

Henry Cloud book summaries: Integrity  •  Necessary Endings

What are you missing?

Posted on by
2

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.

uhl04

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

Posted on by
3

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’.”

uhl28

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?

 

The irony of an “unhurried” post on Black Friday

Posted on by
6

I have never really been a big fan of Black Friday shopping. Some years I couldn’t consider walking the stores with my belly still so full of Thanksgiving dinner. Often I have not yet thought through my Christmas gift list. It has never been because I have already finished my shopping, that’s for sure!

This year, I have been content to unhurrry my way through Thanksgiving, fully enjoying the special people who came to visit, without any plans for Christmas shopping yet. I know I will get drawn in to the festivities, the decorating, and even the present buying soon enough. However, I want to practice unhurried living as much as I can this season.

I have learned this… unhurried living has to be intentional. Scattered, frantic, boundary-less busyness comes naturally. Healthy rhythms of work and rest require planning. An unhurried pace requires commitment and it requires discipline. 

Kevin DeYoung says it well:

“We all know we need rest from work,
but we don’t realize we have to work hard just to rest.”

During our Thanksgiving prep, I worked hard to relax about what time we would eat and how things would look. We took time to get outside together, enjoy God’s beauty, and to thank Him for it and for the special people He has brought into our lives. We put our phones down more often – except for the mandatory beautiful food documentation 🙂 – and played games together. 

It wasn’t always easy, but it was intentional and that was progress.

How can you be more intentional about unhurried living?

SAVOR the moments. FOCUS your mind. REST your body.

In Search of Unhurried Living

Posted on by
6

465e0c04434ee9f0fe6f21d01fde706e slow downI could easily describe myself as a recovering “hurry-aholic”.

I have a model Type A personality and a very full life that could give me plenty of excuses for living at a consistently frenetic pace.

Over the years, however, I have been learning to s…l…o…w… d…o…w…n.

It hasn’t been easy, and I still struggle at times, but all-in-all I am generally much more relaxed and at peace with my life and others. (Maybe one of the reasons you haven’t heard from me here in a long while.)

I have found that many others – maybe you? – also struggle with “hurry sickness”. So I thought I might revive my writing and share some of the things I have learned to counter our hurried life.

Some of what I plan to share comes from a “31 Days of Unhurried Living” campaign I directed last Spring. I will also add in new thoughts and content from books I will be reading. In the next few months, I am going to take three hours each Monday morning to read –  my new personal application of Unhurried Living.

So… if hurry has ever been an issue for you, or if your outer life is slow, but you would like to unhurry your heart and soul, please join with me! It could make a difference.

rest is a four letter word

Posted on by
3

bedroom I grew up with a hard-driving military father. We had jobs to do in the house, yard, garden, or apple orchard. Five children meant there was always plenty of work to do. My dad liked sports and outdoor activities, so we often woke up early to go hiking or skiing or play tennis. The only time we could lay around on the couch or watch TV was if we were sick – really sick.

It is no wonder that I continue to work hard today and have often felt guilty about rest. I’m not busy with yard work or gardening or housework these days, but I enjoy my job, and I like to stay active. I don’t particularly like to sleep, and I rarely watch any television… but I am learning how to rest.

Rest is not just sleep or no physical activity, although it certainly can involve that. Dictionaries say that rest includes relaxation, refreshment, and recovering strength. One definition includes a peace of mind or spirit and to be free from anxiety or disturbance. Another definition mentions a period or interval of repose, solitude, or tranquillity. 

No matter how much we love what we do, or how much work we think we have to do, rest is powerful… and necessary. I read a good post by Michael Hyatt this week about rest, and it helped me reflect on some good reasons for rest:

Rest builds physical strength. Athletes and trainers know that after a challenging workout, the body needs rest to recover, prevent injuries and increase endurance. Sleep, stretching, hydration and nutrition are all important. As I get older, I recognize this more and more.

Rest deepens relationships. Relaxing times with family and friends give me time for full engagement and quality interaction. Play, long conversations, stories, and laughter help me feel refreshed and provide me with healthy connections and community. When I am well rested, I have more to offer others.

Rest invigorates the mind. If I go too long without rest for my mind, my brain feels like scrambled eggs, and I struggle to sort out my thoughts and feelings. When I get away from the daily “to-do” list and anxieties to daydream and let my mind wander, I find that I can think clearly about the less urgent but very important issues like future plans, past reflections, and creativity.

Rest rejuvenates the soul. According to the Bible, even God rested! 🙂 To “let go” of my responsibilities for a bit reminds me of the truth that I am not all-important. Time to breathe deeply, pray, and listen calmly encourages me to find right perspective and contentment.

Rest is often used as a noun for a support, like an arm rest or a chin rest. This reminds me that I often need other people to help me rest. I am so grateful for those in my life who rest well, and they encourage me to rest also.

Well, now that I have this post finished, I am off to rest while watching a World Cup game!

Do you struggle with taking time to rest? Or are you someone who helps other people get away to relax? What are some of your favorite ways to rest well?

____

You might also like to read: a rhythm of rest

a rhythm of rest

Posted on by
10

I just returned from a few sweet vacation days with my family… a rustic cabin by a high altitude river, trail runs under the pine trees, fly fishing, campfires, reading, game nights, puzzles… and too much delicious food.

No cell phones. No TV. No internet.

Just lots of inside jokes and side-splitting belly laughs… very relaxing. Very refreshing.

Our special time reminded me how important rest is in our lives… a time to pull back and think about nothing… or reflect and talk deeply… whichever is desired and needed at the time.  Sometimes I don’t even know what I need until I’ve been away from the busyness and distractions for a while.

A wise friend once shared a recipe for rest that – when I choose to apply it – helps me to ensure that I am resting… even as part of a very busy life. It might help you too…

REST daily

Even 30 quiet minutes a day to get away from the to-do list and everyday chores gives me perspective and energy for the day. I like to set aside time in the early a.m. to read from my Bible and/or a devotional book and pray for guidance and direction for the day. This gets me started on the right track. Others find time to exercise or add a nap to each day.

REFRESH weekly

This is one “Sabbath” day per week that is a change of pace or a break from the week’s schedule and routine. For many this is a church and worship day. For me, this day can include reading, a longer run, working in the garden, fun with friends, sports or anything that makes the day feel special and refreshes me for the next week. I try to stay away from my job, blog postings, or M.A. homework… a break from anything that feels like “work” to me.

REFLECT monthly

For years we have scheduled a whole day or a weekend to review goals, evaluate progress, and plan personal, family and/or ministry activities. This has been a great time to check on personal development plans (PDP), yearly resolutions, children’s character building, and any life-change challenges in process. I like to go away to a favorite coffee shop with my husband, and we have also enjoyed a park setting, a library, a nice hotel, or a retreat center. We take along calendars, podcasts, PDPs, and other resources for our time away.

RETREAT yearly 

This is the longed-for extended vacation, get-away, or escape! For me, it usually involves a complete geographical change and a total disconnect from usual responsibilities and everything virtual or social media related. I love when it includes time with my family, staying up late and sleeping in. These are the treasured times when traditions strengthen, memories multiply, and dreams take flight.

Life flows with a rhythm of activity and rest. I often have to battle prideful, self-made, artificial arguments that claim I am too busy to rest. I need to remind myself that I am not too important nor too indispensable to step aside for a while. I am healthier, more energized, more peaceful – and more pleasant to others – when I rest regularly as part of my life rhythm.

I’d love to learn from you… How do you rest?