“I just wish I had some time to relax!”

Have you ever said those words? Maybe you looked at your calendar, agenda, or whatever other method of keeping up with your crazy schedule you use and felt overwhelmed.

Okay – maybe, instead, a big wave of, “How on earth am I supposed to do ALL of this?!?” smacked you square in the face.

Well, I tend to keep a fairly busy schedule. I have a full-time job, a blog, a growing coaching business, and I am currently writing an ebook I can’t wait to share with you when it’s finished.

I’ve always been that way. For some reason I do much better if I have a few more irons in the fire. Apparently, I like to juggle.

What about you?

Well, if you’re like me, you probably enjoy having a lot of things going on. You feel accomplished, and you like the rush of checking things off your to-do list.

The only problem is…sometimes that can get a little overwhelming.

I’ll admit that even though I do love a packed agenda, I have uttered the phrase, “I just wish I had some time to relax” my fair share of times. Okay. Okay. I may have even shouted it from the top of my lungs while stomping my foot like a three year old whose mom won’t give her a cookie.

Well, today I had my chance!

I work a late schedule on these days, so I have a few hours free in the morning before I go into work. I tend to make the most of these mornings. I’ll go for a run or a bike ride. I try to catch up on laundry, washing dishes, and occasionally mowing the yard. From time-to-time, I’ll schedule some coaching meetings or do some educational activities, too.

I try to pack a whole lot of things in these mornings, so – I get to mark them off my list.

Well, this morning something very strange happened.

I finished my self-assigned “chores” by 9:30am. I finally had some time to relax! Sure I could do some reading, but otherwise I had the rest of the morning to rest and do nothing before I went to work!

It’s was awesome!

Except…I don’t know what to do with that!

Can you relate?

I read for a while, but then I started getting sleepy (can you relate?). So, I just decided to try and unwind.

I sat in my comfy lounge chair in my shaded back yard and forced myself to sit quietly for a few minutes. I prayed for a little bit. Then I closed my eyes and listened to a woodpecker going crazy on an oak tree, and I petted my cat. It was definitely relaxing.

After my restful interlude took a whopping 7 minutes, I was kind of lost…and bored. (Which is why I am writing this post right now.)

The funny thing is that very often in life, we complain and gripe about things, but when we have the opportunity to enjoy something different, we don’t know what to do with it.

We spend so much time wallowing in what isn’t that we have forgotten how to appreciate what is.

Then, when we’re given the chance to experience a change from the norm we grumble about, we can’t enjoy that fully either.

As I was sitting in my back yard, I thought about the words of Jesus,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:28-29.

Jesus was a busy guy who had a cram-packed schedule. Remember – He had to walk everywhere He went. During His public ministry, people followed Him around everywhere. You would think He didn’t need rest. After all, He’s God!

But even Jesus rested. He went away to quite places to spend time alone and with His Father.

It made me realize that I need to learn from Him – maybe you do, too. When given the opportunity to rest, we need to take it. Not just for our tired minds and bodies, but for our souls as well.

I’m hoping the next time I have the chance, I’ll take it! Will you?

Your DoAhead Friend,