A soft breeze from the open windows refreshingly floats around me as I write this piece. A mason jar crisp with water is at my side as I think about the rest of this year. It is February now, not the start of 2017 but not the end either. Every day is a fresh start, a time for change, a new perspective, a wiped-clean surface. A time to reflect on the past and hope for the future. Today I realize I want to do something different than before. Than 2016 or all the other years. I don't want to go through cycles of working and working only to find myself burnt out, sluggish, and weak as I lay on the couch feeling guilty. Today I realize I need a consistent schedule of planning and productivity and also moments to myself. I need goals and checklists and then a walk. Or a nap. Or just a time of "resting my eyes." ;) Oftentimes I need a break from this life, especially when my introverted personality pops out. I just really need to breathe. Breathe. That's my word. While I hope to do much growing and be more productive this year than years past, I have to plan my schedule ahead of time. I need to push out of my comfort zone and my laziness but not so much that I have mental breakdowns that I'm not doing enough. I often forget that I'm still growing; that I can only take the next step and I'm not perfect yet. "He's still working on me. Do you ever feel this way? Like you try so hard to check off your lists and keep moving, moving, moving? Because you're scared of failure? Like you can never do enough? Be enough? And you'll never catch up to all your role models? I feel the same way. That's why I have to have my little quiet time every day. It's good for a lot of things... Remembering Sometimes I just need to sit back, relax, and remember. God's STILL working on me. Every day, even if it is as small as spending fifteen minutes a day doing devotions. Or not just feeling depressed that you can't play that one flute piece, but just practicing that one line. One section at a time. One page at a time. One moment at a time. One day at a time. Step by step. Just go forward. Thinking My mom likes to say, "There are so many good things you could think about. Just sitting down on the deck with a cup of coffee can be healthy for your soul. Unplug for a while: no stress, no iPhone, no Internet. No feeling down or depressed about yourself. Think about the good things in life, or what God is doing. Breathe. Just a couple moments every day. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Phillippians 4:8 Listening It's important for a good walk with Christ. A good relationship. Every day you need moments specifically set apart for Him. Praying, reading the Bible, listening for his voice, obedience... all these components in your little times with Him. The stress of my life isn't as important anymore when I renew my perspective and spend time with the King. He's the important one, and that's how it should be. It's weird but sometimes I ask God for a "spiritual massage." For peace to calm me down from my stress, and for wisdom and trust and strength and regeneration in him. This kind of thing should happen often, once every day or more than that. So that's why this year I have finally taken the time to sit down and write this, to breathe, to take a break from my busy life, and to commit to spending less time feeling down about myself and more time going deeper with God, step by step. And to make time to take moments every day, to breathe.
2 Comments
5/7/2017 09:36:02 am
LOVE this, Karissa! I can always use a good reminder to just breathe. :) Thanks!
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about the authorAs a 21 year old aspiring teacher, Karissa loves to write, travel, play piano, and read. Many creative things have her heart. archives
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