It's time to be vaccinated!

I am so excited about this topic of finding peace amidst a busy lifestyle, that I am going to reflect on it all week. Just like a plumber needs a wrench, a cook needs a sharp knife, or an accountant needs a calculator, we have to have tools to help us with our mission.



Tool #1: Get your relaxation vaccine early this year!



We have been getting shots since we were newborns. Stabs in our skin that release a disease fighting agent to prevent us from getting really ill. This week I plan to join the crowds and get a flu shot. Before I board a plane, or enter a crowded space, I drink Airborne for an extra dose of vitamins. All of this is to help my body fight against germs that I may or may not encounter.



We have to do the same things in our daily lives. Plan a vacation. Mark a day off of work in three months for no apparent reason. Then use that day to rest and recharge your battery. Call for a babysitter when you have no plans yet... take the hour or so to do what comes to you.



We have to be preventative in incorporating relaxation (or fun time!) in our lives. If we always rely on reacting to stress before we are aware it's time to slow down, the the wear and tear can detirerate our physical self... and it could also lead to an emotional/spiritual breakdown. I have seen a lot of people who lived their life like a hamster on the wheel.... forgetting to slow down.... but eventually the wheel starts spinning so fast that they loose all control... until their world slowly starts to crumble.


And then... they relax... take a break... and they come to me and say, "Liz, I feel great! Best I have ever felt! I am ready to get back on the wheel!"

To which I respond, "What will you do differently this time?"

"I don't know what you mean. I feel great! No need to change things!" They are often so proud of getting over this breakdown they forget how to prevent another one.



Somebody once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results." Don't be crazy and think you can get right back on the wheel without protecting yourself from injury.



I have a friend who schedules "me time" in her calendar. If it's in her calendar, it will get done. Today I want you to look at your calendar and find a space to schedule some preventative maintenance on your self. I don't feel like I need to get my oil changed when I do. There is typically nothing wrong with my car from what I can tell. But, I go... because if I don't, the damage could be costly! So, even if you are feeling on top of the world, remember to find time to plan for relaxation. The damage on your spirit could also be costly!