I have often thought of myself as the consummate multitasker. I seemed to move effortlessly from one task to another and keep it all together. One day I looked at my life, and while I didn’t scale any tall buildings, wearing a cape, I prepared breakfast every morning for my son, took him to school, headed to a networking event, coordinated coaching appointments on the phone, only to return to my office having obtain several new clients, then go to his school and teach a class, drive home, support him doing homework, cook dinner, work, play, read bedtime stories before falling into bed. Only to start all over again in the morning.
Interruptions didn’t fluster me, as I would integrate them into what needed to be done. I was the first to volunteer for the fundraising at my son’s school. I switched between two phones and the constant beeps of notifications, incoming calls, and text messages. At one point, I actually thought it was an accomplishment to be able to juggle everything, to be needed by others, their “go-to” person for solutions.
I meditated in the morning and exercised several times a week… until I got too busy.
At that moment I realized it wasn’t a badge of honor that I could juggle so much, nor was it more efficient. Truth be told, all I was managing was stressing me out. Being overextended had a downside. It wasn’t as efficient as I thought.
I was so tired and didn’t even know it. I was working on automatic pilot and numb in most areas of my life… simply dancing as fast as I could. On top of it all, my sleep was disrupted with my fluctuating hormones, not to mention my son’s all-too-frequent nightmares and scary dreams.
It would be at least six months after I was fired until I could feel my body uncoil after having been wound too tightly for so long that it felt normal. I realized there was so much I had missed moving so fast and not giving my full presence and attention to each individual experience.
Does any of this resonate for you? Dancing as fast as you can to get everything done, taking shortcuts on healthy eating because you’d have to shop and cook, attempting to squeeze in your “me time” on the go, and managing stress with a Frappuccino in the morning and glasses of wine in the evening.
Let me ask you, how comfortable are you with saying no? If you struggle to hold on to yourself, consider this—when you say No to “them,” you are saying Yes to yourself. And YOU matter. Now just figure out what you are willing to say YES to—just for you—that matters to you and the quality of your life.
I have to say, once I was uncoiled… I never went back. I had to rethink how I was living my life—the quality of it. I loved my meditation and it was important to my health, my fulfillment, and my peace of mind.
I loved how I felt when I was moving… whether it was Hip Hop Abs or Zumba. I settled on Bikram Yoga and meditation, because each practice causes me to commit to be fully present.
When you know you’ve gotten too busy and you’re ready to say YES to you, yes to being replenished, nurtured, and nourished, I invite you to retreat with me for a weekend where you will be heard, held, and honored at the Spirit and Riches Replenishing Retreat.
Much love & respect,
Rev. Jenenne