16. BEGINNING AFTER BREAKING.
Why is it so difficult to pick up where you left off after taking a rest?
Newton’s first law of motion: an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion (in the same direction and speed) unless an unbalanced force acts against it.
My unbalanced force is my full time job. I’m running at warp speed to bring a new facility into being which means program design, construction, FUNDRAISING, and lots of meetings. (Want to see what I’m, up to? Click here to learn how Columbus Humane is working to provide heavily subsidized veterinary care to pets whose families’ cannot afford care, make sure all pets have access to nutritious food, and attract a diverse workforce into animal health careers). Though I’m absolutely committed and energized around my work, running at warp speed and devoting all of my creative energy in this area of my life brought my writing for The Advantageist to a bit of a halt. (It was that or let my family fend for themselves, so the choice was easy).
A balanced life isn’t equal servings of your time and energy served up like pie slices. It’s more often dramatically swaying one side to the other with your arms spread out like airplane wings while you try to stay upright on a tightrope. Or like Djimon Hounsou rocking back and forth on that half-moon shape thing in Janet Jackson’s “Love Will Never Do” video. Swoon. Is it hot in here?
Are you pausing one area of your life to feed energy to another? Worried about how difficult it will be to get that paused bit back into motion? Fear not! There are advantages to taking a break.
1. It’s not boring! Taking a breather from a routine or repeated activity, whether you wanted to or not, allows your mind to rest and refocus which can help expand perspective and generate new creative ideas.
2. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Time away from one aspect of your life that you enjoy gives you the opportunity to miss it. It’s a great reminder why you value it in the first place. This can strengthen your resolve and power your motivation to get back to it. Perhaps y’all missed my blog posts and you’ll read this one with more gusto!
3. You’re wiser now. Wherever you focused your efforts while in time out—you likely learned something really valuable. Use this new found knowledge to get you going full speed when you’re ready to jump back in to the rested activity. For example, one thing I want to focus more Advantageist thinking toward is helping people find the advantages in surrounding yourself with people who are different from you. We all benefit from expanded perspectives. Oh, and I have a deeper passion for reducing judgement in the world. I’m determined to help my community find the advantages in holding others up, not holding them down.
There’s no shame in taking a rest or in shuffling priorities as needed. That’s life. Take a moment to recognize and appreciate the benefits that come along with that break and carry them forward with you.
Ready? Go!
Cheers to beginning again,
Rachel
