I'm running on empty as I write this so it may be the only thing I can write today. I expect most people can identify with this feeling.
Because running out of fuel is expensive for us, just as it is for our vehicles, we try to keep on going, getting mileage out of the last ounce in us. Then, we find we are running on fumes and they can overcome us!
I'm going to leave town, taking a vacation put off too long already. Just thinking about it reenergizes me. I'm mentally in Vermont already, enjoying the mountains and quaint shops.
If you haven't taken a vacation in a long time, you need one. No doubt about it. A vacation renews more than the body.
There are other, quicker ways to renew our energy. Turning off the TV is one. Surprised? I was. When visiting my sister, I notice how much longer the days seem. The simple reason is that the TV is usually off. How many homes are there with the TV off? Try it, even for a few hours.
Music is another tonic for the tired soul. Not all music of course. Chamber music transports me into Olde England and even elevator music can take our often frantic pace down to calm.
Because running out of fuel is expensive for us,
just as it is for our vehicles, we try to keep on going,
getting mileage out of the last ounce in us.
I know indulging our hobbies can make a big difference on the contentment scale. Those who paint know what I mean. Doing something we love to do makes such a difference, whether it is part of our vocation or avocation. I know it has been too long since I wrote for hours on end. As much as I enjoy a sociable lunch, I can forget to eat lunch when I'm merging with words on a page. Imagine that!
If life gets too hectic with no opportunity to get out of town, do something for yourself. It's so important.
This month is our annual health issue and we explore the many ways we can take care of ourselves, piece by piece. We also need to take care of our soul and refuel. There are as many ways to do that as there are individuals. Find your way to refuel. Don't wait for the fumes-
Jean Loxley-Barnard has been a writer all her life and studied both sociology and psychology at George Washington University where she earned a B.A. Her company, The Shopper, Inc., encompasses all the Loxley-Barnard family publications - The Shopper Magazines and Doctor to Doctor Magazine. She has been in the advertising, consulting and publishing business for 39 years.