The last few weeks have been a bit unusual for me. I’ve never traveled for three straight weeks before, but our annual family trip with my in-loves just so happened to be exactly adjacent to a family reunion trip with my extended family. In all my planning, it seemed like it would be simple as pie.
It didn’t go exactly as planned.
Flights were cancelled, the airline wasn’t helpful, kids were tired, and momma was tired. By the time we arrived in Colorado, I needed a vacation from my vacation. Then there was the late bag, the wait for the bus to the rental car facility, the 45 minute line and the news that the car I booked wouldn’t hold all our bags, much less get us up the mountain on our four-hour drive. Perfect.
Then a strange thing happened.
After we finally got some food and got on the road, I started to feel energized. (alright, some of it might have been due to ZipFizz) But, as we were driving on the winding roads up the mountain, past rivers, through little towns, I got giggly. Even when we hit stand still traffic, it didn’t matter. The scenery was so beautiful and the air was so crisp, we rolled the windows down and turned the radio up.
As we drove, I could physically feel my body letting go of stress. I was breathing deeper and more slowly. The chaos, the rush, the frustration was drifting out the windows of the car as the fresh air came in.
I started to feel alive, like I haven’t felt in a very long time.
We were the last to arrive at the house with all the extended family. As we arrived, I continued to feel more peace. Even amidst the chaos of kids running, jumping, tugging and crashing.
There was peace.
Our days have been full of activities, but not stress. It’s like the mountains and sky are whispering, “Slow down, just rest“. And I have.
It’s so strange.
I think I’d forgotten what it feels like to rest. I’ve found myself sitting, watching the sunrise or the sunset, and feeling like there’s something else I’m supposed to be doing. My mind wanting me to get up and run to go tackle a project or get something done.
It’s like I don’t even know what to do with the peace and quiet.
Every second of my life has been so jam-packed that my mind is confused by rest.
That’s not a good thing.
As I write this, I realize you might not be able to get away to the mountains for rest in this season of your life. I don’t mean to rub it in or make it harder for you in any way.
My hope is that you’ll read these words and think about the pace of your life.
I hope you’ll create a space this weekend in your schedule, wherever you are, to simply be still and breathe deeply. Even if it’s laying in your bed at night or before you get out of it in the morning. Take one minute to breathe in peace.
In fact, do it right now.
Close your eyes and inhale slowly until your lungs are completely full of air.
As you release all that air, release a worry with it.
Let it go.
Breathe in again and release that worry again.
Do that for one minute.
Seriously. Do it right now.
Whatever it is you’re doing right now, it can wait until after you breathe.
Get some rest. You need it.
To more love,
Crystal
