Intentional Downtime; It's Worth It!

You know, so many times we try to plan our days and arrange our schedules so that everything turns out perfectly. Schedules met, errands run, to do lists finished...really? When does it ALL fall into place perfectly? Rarely. And yet, it falls into place. Imperfectly at times, but into place nonetheless.

So, how do we escape this dance with efficiency and perfection and performance and still keep our life running (fairly) smoothly?  Sometimes, it's by slowing down... just a little....to say hello to a stranger, to look up from our twitter account, email, spreadsheet, to make eye contact with another human being that is right in front of us! To ask them how their day is going instead of being so absorbed in what's next on my to do list.  Sometimes, it's by taking a new route on the way to the store, to work, or to school in hopes of seeing something "different" that day. It could be by NOT cramming ACTIVITY into EVERY minute of your day, but by sitting still and allowing some moments to be created.

And other times, it is by INTENTIONALLY carving out time to get outside our every day life and spend time in those places that have not been "arranged by the hand of man"...This is where I regroup the best. When things are overwhelming or starting to get to me, the solitude is very healing for my spirit.

One of my favorite things to do is to go to an OUTSIDE venue and do a workout in my vibram five fingers, which I LOVE! There is nothing better than moving and exercising outside in the sunshine, wind, rain, etc...whatever the weather, I'm headed out...I even love it when I am visiting in Amarillo and it's cold! Unless there is SNOW on the ground and it's fffreezing, I prefer to workout outside any day.

Here's one of my favorite outside moments when I was in Colorado visiting my friend Maria. I love to photograph my excursions in my vibram five fingers..a little goofy, yes, but still something I enjoy!

Her neighbor, Monique, generously invited us to Winter Park to stay in her cabin for a night while I was visiting. It was peak time for color in Colorado, and what a perfect time it was for me to get away.With my dad passing away in the spring, and my sister and I in the middle of selling their home and conducting an estate sale, I was fortunate enough to find a $60 round trip flight from Amarillo to Denver. I snapped it up and flew to the mountains...my heaven here on earth!

Once in WP, the three of us took off for a walk among the beautiful changing aspen trees. I recorded the leaves blowing in the wind for my mom, who is an artist and who is now in a memory care unit, because she always said they looked like coins blowing in the wind. That was a gift I could take back for her.

The colors, the untouched nature around me, was such a healing place for my spirit to be in the winding down of what had been a very chaotic year.  I was presented with an amazing opportunity (who gets to FLY to Denver for $60?!?!) AND stay in an amazing place with two very special friends. But, I had to INTENTIONALLY seize that opportunity. I admit, I don't always make the most of these moments, but this time I did, and my spirits were changed in three days. I am so grateful for the BEAUTY of this world, and this opportunity to be plunked down in the middle of it, even for a brief time. And for the friends who were there alongside me.

The challenge? Look for places "not arranged by man" to scoot off to...even for 15 or 20  minutes. A local park? A trail for walking? A new route on your road bike? A drive in the country on your own with the windows down and listening to "your" music. I encourage you to take time. Make time. To let your human spirit soar alongside the natural beauty around you. And in the words of my friend, Charlia, "It's good for your soul". And she's right. It is.