What do you do when you have a long list of to-dos, a schedule that screams at you, and the pressure of needing to produce and accomplish? Usually I move faster, or try to, while my mind races to the next thing and the one after that.
This summer has hustled me along, day after day full of more than I can handle. Now, I’m seeing back to school signs. Kids in other parts of the country have already left the beach, pool, backyard swing set, and sandbox for the classroom.
I had a meltdown after dinner the other night thinking about how this summer has been all work and no play. “But we didn’t even do anything fun yet this summer!” Starting a business and trying to keep financially afloat is no joke. And although I’m not surprised by what it takes, I still need a break from it from time to time, like anyone else. Yet I feel the incessant need to invent, create, promote, improve, sell, etc.
While listening to an Etsy Success podcast yesterday, I heard the word “burnout” more than once and knew that was where I was headed. So I’ve made the decision to take this Sunday to reflect, write, read, paint, walk, to notice and discover–anything that is nurturing to the soul and doesn’t add to my stress levels. I cannot solve all of my problems or think creatively while already at my wit’s end. Seems silly to even write it, but sometimes it takes writing it to make it true for myself.
So, wherever you are and whatever you do today, I hope you also take time to rest from the race, hide from the hustle, and blend your being with birds, the blanket of earth under your feet, the breeze playing with your hair. As Mary Oliver wrote in her poem “Look and See”,
“Oh, Lord, how shining and festive is your gift to us, if we only look, and see.”
Life of Kim 
I have heard your lament often. nearly everyone that I know is near meltdown crisis! seems today if one begins *a* project, the modern age has it where this project has 47 other connections that you have to also do too.
then a simple project takes SO long. even a five minute project can take all afternoon, these days. I have a small system: if I have a five minute project, I do not begin it unless I have a free open hour!
I read that Spirit has stimulated our lives such that one works out Karma faster. like living ten years in one year.
to wit: when I was a kid at the family lakeside cottage, Cayuga lake in new York state, people “still fished”. they sat in a boat for hours with a fishline in the water. by the 70s the power boats arrived. in the late 90s I met a ex-classmate, now he was over 50 years old and a high level executive. I came to his cottage just as he was getting into his boat to power power ski. note that I write “power power ski”! yes, this is 60 mph out in the middle of the lake. he does this to relax.
I Saw it thus! this is the *only* way that he can relax; he is made to move. he incarnated in the age to get 20 things done per week. if he *had* to sit still for an hour he might come undone!
freestone
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This is so beautiful, Tía Kim. Thank you for reminding us to relax and enjoy the little things.
I totally know what you mean about burn out, having been burnt out on my full-length novel for a while now, and I’m trying to re-learn to enjoy writing. So thank you so much!
I hope you find the peace that you need in the midst of the craziness.
Love,
Jason
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Thank you, Jason! That’s so amazing that you’re writing a novel—that’s a huge task to take on. You can do it though. 💕
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Also I’m not sure why, but for some reason WordPress is not letting me like your post, or else I would 😉
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Hhhmmm, I’ll look into that.
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I think it’s something with my computer actually. I can like it with my phone.
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