August 27, 2018

Thirty Days Without a Break (Is Not Okay)

There are consequences to much work and little rest. There are also rewards. But ultimately, thirty days without a break can lead to about thirty cracks in my good nature and mental health.

Before today — which I booked off work intentionally because I NEED TO NOT LEAVE MY HOUSE FOR ONE STINKING DAY! — the last time without obligations outside my own home hasn't been since July 30.

Rhythm is important in my life and my happiness is quite dependent on a weekly sabbath in which I can confidently and without guilt, enjoy twenty-four hours within my own space.


August has been a wonderful month of great things. My family served as ministry staff at Stayner Camp, where we helped with twice daily worship sets for ten days. It was a beautiful time for us spent with lovely people. The opportunity to make music with talented people is a true gift. But it's still ten days of being a charming 'face of camp life' and for an introvert, this is a bit of a challenge, made more so because I knew we were coming home to dive right into our church's Summer Slam VBS program in which I helped with registration, my eldest as a volunteer leader, and the other two children as participants. Throw in my day-job, baseball playoffs, meetings about a potential investment/small business opportunity, and a publication deadline for the second anniversary issue of my literary magazine, Blank Spaces, and you get thirty days with no time to breathe.

A few nights ago, I crawled into bed, turned on the television to unwind and watch something before bed, and I woke up at 5:30 a.m. still in a half-sitting position against a pile of pillows, the blue screen of the TV lighting the room up since the Apple-TV had shut itself off hours before. That's a good indication that I've been pushing myself too hard.

Still, there's much to do, and even though today is a 'day off', I'm still catching up on publishing business, returning emails, pretending I can't hear the noise of the children in the other room as my son babysits his cousins, and telling myself it's okay I didn't get the clothes off the line before the rain came. (I've also been researching the cost of flights to Iceland, because my twentieth anniversary is coming up in October and it would be fun to go somewhere atypical.)

September will be here before we know it, and strangely, I find myself craving the regularity of school days and slow weekends. While I loathe the idea that days will get shorter and the air will begin to carry the hateful promise of winter, I do look forward to a little bit of order returning to our lives.

Life is crazy. It's busy and chaotic. But never boring. And I'm so thankful I have these weirdos to share it with:

A family shot from our trip to Hamilton last weekend ❤️


I'm setting up shop at the Durham Fall Fair this weekend. If you're in the area, stop by and say hi and enjoy some discounted titles from my growing collection! If I sell out of everything, I might actually be able to afford a 'real' break! 😉



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2 comments:

  1. LOL! I wrote a similar blog this morning. And I agree, at least one day at week at home! http://ascribewriters.com/what-did-you-do-on-your-summer-vacation/

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    1. I've learned to be really good at saying no — but sometimes there isn't even space to do that much! One day a week at home is my heaven. Now, off to read your blog 😊

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