Racing Through Life

I don’t know about you, but I often jump out of bed, leaping from slumberland into my body, and then drive it like it’s stolen.

Checking my email and texts – if one of those didn’t already wake me up with a familiar chime – as I’m brushing my teeth and putting on my face.

Texting my husband downstairs to ask him to put the kettle on while I’m deciding what to wear. I’m coordinating conference calls alongside outfits and taking action by the time I’m headed down the stairs.

I think most born entrepreneurs can relate.

The rest of you think we’re insane.

When you love what you do, when it’s in your bones, when it’s your “juice,” you can’t think of much you’d rather be doing.

And yet in recent years Body has been speaking to me via some input on my racecar dashboard…..

The arrow has often been nearing empty. The fluids need replenishing. I’ve had to take it to the body shop…well….more than a few times.

I reason that the mileage that’s creeping higher is “just a number.”

I’ve supplemented with new oils and upgraded my fuel.

Yet…..that dashboard and that wear-and-tear is starting to get to me.

Can you relate?

If you’re like me, your Body could use some TLC after years of running hard and fast for you.

So how do we slow down?

How can we Life Reclamists take back our bodily health?

The other day, as I was asking these very questions, I could hear a whisper in my ear “Quit racing through life.”

My spirit nodded but my mind queried….

What does that mean, and how can I do it?

Well – at least for me – it won’t happen because other people forced us to, or guilted us into it.

(It has always irritated me when people try to give you advice to “slow down” and “relax a little.”)

“Listen,” my inside voice responded, “I’m not interested in being a lady-who-lunches. I’ve got the world to conquer.”

And, yet my inner man knows that the whisper brought TRUTH.

We’re all so uniquely made and I don’t know the answer to help YOU stop racing, but I am going to share some of the things I’m starting to do to reclaim my health and heed the Whisper.

And I’m not going to try to master it overnight. I’m going to be gentle with my racecar self instead of beating up on myself (because it took a LONG time to get out of that cycle and I have no intention of getting back into that demoralizing effort.)

• I’m going to put my phone on silent by my nightstand. Because frankly, I have a lot of east coast friends who text way too early. You know who you are and I love you anyway. I’m going to respond to you at 8 am and not 5 am anyway.
• I’m going to play music or listen to an inspiring teaching while I’m getting ready instead of beginning the communication and delegation frenzy. Unless it’s urgent.
• While I’m at it; I’m going to take the time to put lotion on and take a little more time on Body.
• I might even make my bed before I leave the bedroom unless Charlie and Boomer (our family dogs) have other plans.
• Frankly, I still need Trevor to bring me my tea. It’s my ritual and I’m going to jolly well enjoy it instead of slurping it.
• If it is sunny, I’m going to my front porch to enjoy the morning sun. Body really likes that. I’m actually good at that during the summer. I eat out there when I can. I bet I can make it cozier for the other seasons, too. Maybe I will start one of the scores of books I’ve ordered from Amazon that are in my To Read pile(s).
• As I’m cleaning up the kitchen multiple times a day (because we work from our homestead and are constantly messing it up) I’m going to marvel more at the hummingbirds outside my window and take off the headphones.

You get the idea. I could go on and on but you don’t need to invest your time reading more. You need to invest your time in thinking about how YOU are going to stop driving your Body like you’re in a high speed chase.

And so do I.

Because Body has been good to us. Body has seen us through a lot. Body has gotten us all this way, and served us well.

Now it’s time to nurture Body.

To pull out the cords and plugs that keep us bound.

To be kinder to ourselves.

To pay a little attention to the landscape of Body.

To surround Body with healing music and sight and smell.

To honor Body.

Since “The Whisper” I have been purposing to LISTEN to Body. Today I took a nap fully clothed snug in my bed. I skipped lunch because I was still full from breakfast instead of looking at the clock for my cues. I opted for a warm soup later in the day. And now I’m cozy by a fire writing to you – fellow Life Reclaimists who really want, need, and deserve to s.t.o.p. racing through life.

I hope you’ll join me in rethinking our pace. In making conscious steps to ease off the throttle.

Because those dashboard indicators are there for a reason: to issue warnings to preserve us.

And we are worth preserving!

Related

• Visit our Reclaim Your Health page to start taking back your health
• Learn more about our Health Consulting Services
• Read more about my family’s journey to reclaim our health
• Learn about having a Healthy Medicine Cabinet
• Visit our Reclaim Your Health Pinterest Board for more ideas