Topic Tuesday: Self-Care

“Slowing Down” (By: Lindsey Love)

I’ve been thinking about writing for several weeks now. Thinking about it, but not actually doing it. I’ve had plenty of ideas but just haven’t taken the time to stop and write. I vocalized this struggle with a friend (ok, my therapist) and now here I sit with the perfect topic at hand–the importance of slowing down.

We live in a society where being busy is praised and even rewarded in many ways. Self-care is viewed as selfish and leaving time for rest and reflection is almost unheard of. Thankfully, that is beginning to shift in my world but I had the realization that I have not been honoring it lately. My day to day life is filled with the busyness that comes with being a mom. When I also make time to be a wife, a friend, a daughter and a sister, my schedule is quickly filled.

It’s totally fine to have girls nights and date nights but why do I have these times when I am overbooked and running on fumes? It sounds like such a simple question but for me it is deeply rooted. It tends to be a way for me to avoid something or simply that I am having trouble saying the very powerful two letter word — No.

It’s important for me to slow down so I can address what is lying beneath the surface of the busyness. Sometimes, what comes up is something pretty straight forward like working on boundaries or addressing that I’m angry at someone. Other times, I need to deal with deeply buried wounds from my past. The more I slow down, the more these issues can surface and the more I can grow.

Slowing down also helps me to get present and to see the extraordinary in my ordinary day to day life. I get to feel the tenderness in my chest when I look at my daughter and feel that powerful, somewhat overwhelming love I have for her. I am able to truly listen to my husband when he is being vulnerable with me instead of my mind moving on to what I want to say next. Instead of being in my thoughts, I notice the way the clouds turn a vibrant pink color as the sun sets and I hear the sounds of the frogs outside my window singing me a lullaby. These small things can really bring a lot of joy to my life if I let them. I hope you will take the time to slow down and center yourself so that you notice the beauty in your everyday life too.

About the Author

Lindsey is a Jesus loving wife and momma. In her free time, she likes to write, read, listen to music, be outdoors and spend time with friends and family. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and was previously an ICU nurse at St. Thomas hospital. She is currently enjoying being a full-time mommy and is waiting to see where the Light guides her next. She hopes her writing will encourage others in their recovery journey.