Another day of traveling that pushes me this a.m.  I’m sure you all know the ‘crunch’, especially at this time of the year.  So this morning’s thoughts will be brief with more to come later.

Last evening I attended two of my grandchildren’s school Christmas program.  The woman who puts it together is awesome and so the program was again awesome.  The school choir in which my grandson sings has won numerous awards over the past year and will be treated to the opportunity to sing with Danny Rodregiuz (?), America’s singing policeman who returns to our community in the spring.  This is an awesome opportunity for them as well.

 Now that I’ve done a little “grandmother crowing”, I want to say that I went to the event not feeling 100% and had a difficult time taking my mind off the numerous things that were waiting for me at home.  It took at least 30 minutes (much of it spent waiting for the program to start) to settle in and shift mental-emotional gears.  I’m glad it didn’t take any longer.

In the past here, we’ve talked about “balance” and how important it is in our lives - to our physical and emotional well being as well as our professional success.  “Why”, I wondered do I get so much going in my life that taking an evening “off” to enjoy the beauty of children celebrating the “reason for the season” seems a chore?  Does one evening among all the rest of the hours in a week really make all that much difference?  More importantly, I believe, is our ability to put on the “back-burner” all that relates to “business-as-usual” and bring our total being to letting down and letting go.

I can tell you that because I didn’t physically feel 100% as I usually do; I wanted to say “I don’t feel good” and “sorry I’ll have to miss the program”.  If I’d done that - what would I have done at home?  Well I can tell you, I would have worked.  I would have put my lovely g’children and the beauty of other young voices and faces on the “back-burner” and have never experienced a priceless moment that could never be recovered.

So what I’m trying to say as a word of encouragement this a.m. is to reiterate the importance of balance in our lives.  Deciding what constitutes a reasonable work day and then “closing up shop” for the hours that remain and turning our entire being to something else that refreshes and restores body, mind and spirit.

Take a breather!  Let go and let God!  Take a walk, wander through a mall just to browse, call a friend or better still have a cup of java with her.  If you have children and/or g’children nearby, take them for a snack and play silly games with them and look deeply into their beautiful faces. 

It may make you tear up, but the change of focus and attention will revive your soul; refresh your mind and renew your body!

Tomorrow you’ll get much more done because you restored some balance to your life.

More later, but until then have an awesome day with much love and rich blessings!

  Linda