My home state of Missouri is experiencing what my mom would call a frog-choker rain. Being the visual person I am, I appreciate this description probably more than most as I visualize bullfrogs croaking requests for life preservers. With few words, one understands that a frog-choker rain is a doozey of a storm.
Do you know those storms? The ones that flood your body with heaviness, forcing you to gasp for breath and grab a life preserver?
I know them.
And through them I’ve learned what helps keep me afloat:
- A drive to the beach or time in nature.
- My favorite music, seafood, and an umbrella drink.
- Time with people who are near and dear.
- Time alone.
- A good book or maybe a good nap.
- Focusing on my strengths, gifts, blessings.
- Asking for help.
- Being strong.
- Being gentle.
- Believing in myself, in others, in the divine.
- Running, walking, or biking. Just moving my body.
- Breathing. Deeply. Slowly. Really breathing. I mean this quite literally.
- And praying. All the time.
- Focusing on what is within my control.
- Letting go of the rest.
- Breathing.
- Praying.
- Swimming.
What keeps you afloat?
Go ahead.
Pause.
On this first day of a new year and answer that question.
What keeps me afloat?
Make a list of your life preservers. Save it on your bathroom mirror, or as a screen saver, or in your journal, or on the refrigerator as a wake up call.
And on those mornings, during those moments, in those frog-choker rains, go to your list.
And swim.
What keeps me afloat? I pull myself out of bed, grab a cup of coffee, open up my latest prompt, do a quick five minutes, then spend the next two hours on my latest writing project, whether it be a poem, a short story, a blog post or a novel.
Happy 2016 Don. I’m glad I could provide a quick writing/thinking prompt for you today in this new year. I always admire your dedication to your writing. It is indeed one of your life preservers. Looking forward to another shared year of powerful and uplifting writing.
Looking forward to seeing what you pull out of your hat as well. 🙂
A great post full of great thoughts and new ideas for the new year. Thanks
You’re welcome. Hope your year is amazing.
Hey friend! I lost touch post Honduras and have thought of you often. I almost went to the Fiddler again last night and would have texted you if I did. I stayed home instead. Love the post! Let’s catch up soon!
Sent from Monica’s iPhone. Please excuse any typos.
What keeps me afloat? Swimming (literally), running and biking with my friends -all great places to think and get perspective , yoga, prayer, accomplish a task, love on a friend or neighbor (takes the focus off me), hike some trails or relax at the beach.
Thanks for the prompt to consider the question! Challenge for 2016: Create more space and give self permission to rest and listen.
Look your answer. Thank you for sharing it. Peace.
Meant to say, “love” your answer. Turmoils of typing.
Number one….trust in God, always, in all things. Thanks for including me in your blog and good luck with the book. Glad to see you are still at it…….
Yes indeed, trust in God. The prompt will help think about tangibles within the trusting. Good to hear from you. Wishing you and Ryan an amazing 2016––graduation year. Unbelievable.
Hope. It’s always there.
God’s everlasting presence…”I will never leave you, nor forsake you”. –my personal favorite promise from Him.
A heart of Gratitude: Wow, I’m waking up in a comfortable bed, with a roof over my head and a body and mind that works. I have two wonderful children that call my ‘Mom’.
Yeah, I have a lot to be thankful for. Is my life perfect? What’s perfect? It’s all relative. 🙂 Check the attitude.
Grace—need much of this, daily, for myself and towards others.
Second chances, and third…, and fourth…. Ahhh.
Last I checked, my SMILE still works too, and it’s free.
Happy Trails everyone!
Thanks for your thoughts Ramona. I especially like the grace one. That’s always a good one to hold tight to. Happy New Year!
You too!
Pingback: PMS at Its Best: physical, mental, spiritual health – Momentous Living