"ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT"

It’s time for another weekend reset. It has been a full week. I think I deserve a restful weekend. Well, even if I don’t deserve it, I need it and I’m taking it. Who is to stop me?

Others may have expectations of me. Others may have plans for my time. What do I need? I need a break. I need to recharge and reset. And so do you.

This week we remind ourselves that it is important, and ok to respect the needs of our body, mind and spirit by taking time to recharge and reset physically, mentally, and spiritually.

I recently took a month-long vacation for the first time in thirty years. It was glorious. It was refreshing, energizing, and inspiring.

Here is just a glimpse of my mother’s beautiful, relaxing garden - my daily view for a wonderful month:

Maybe if I took this break a couple or so years ago, I would not know how to just relax without feeling guilt or discomfort. It could have been like the first time all our children went off to summer camp and my husband and I had the house to ourselves for an entire week. It felt a little strange, and before we knew it they were back and we were wondering what we had done with our week of “freedom”.

Well, I am learning the importance of self-care and that I need to refill my cup because I cannot serve others on empty. Since my entire life is about serving or helping others, I need to constantly refill my cup.

I know this is EVERY woman’s reality. Our lives are about pouring into others regardless of our profession or role. It is just the way we are wired. Our maternal instincts. Every woman, therefore, needs to constantly recharge and reset.

I did not realize just how much, but I was tired. I needed the break. I really did not plan this trip for rest. I knew I would not be doing anything strenuous, but primarily I planned it in order to spend quality time with my parents, and reconnect with my extended family, and my roots (Trinidad). And that I did.

Here I am at the mudhouse museum in South Trinidad, not far from my parents’ home. Who knew?!?!

When I look back particularly over the last few years, I have to accept that it had not been easy establishing a business and mastering new skills to maneuver the online space. It had not been easy dealing with the transitions in our children’s lives into adulthood, the world of work, independence, and one doing university literally from his bedroom… online.

How about you? Take a moment to reflect. What has your life been like over the past couple years?

While I had taken periodic and fun breaks, they were always very short and sometimes the effort to take them would in themselves be taxing.

I, therefore, enjoyed my one-month vacation thoroughly. No regrets. I forced myself to take it easy. My parents and my family were happy to pamper me, having not seen me for four years, and even then for only a week or so at a time. I allowed myself to be pampered (contrary to my usual inclination).

Life is tough, but it can also be an adventure if we only give ourselves permission to take time out to recharge and reset.

My sister took me kayaking in Chaguaramas. It started with a lesson as I had never kayaked before. Then it was off to put it into practice. The instructor said I was one of his best students. LOL (madam perfectionist). I surprised myself. I just did it. My sister said I was “a natural”.

When I realized I could kayak, I rowed and rowed away - up and down the coastline, up and down the coastline, up and down the coastline….at a pace. It was fun but exhausting.

Then I noticed that my sister was going much slower, and in fact, at one point had stopped and was just sitting there. I rowed up to her and realized she was just relaxing, taking in the scenery and enjoying sitting there. So I tried it

It was a totally different experience - feeling the boat gently rocking, the soft cool breeze blowing on my entire body and the beautiful view of the horizon, the few other people either bathing or fishing at a distance, and the silence. It felt good to rest after rowing like it was nobody’s business for the past however long. Mercy!!!

Imagine I almost missed that. I was so busy enjoying my newfound ability, and thinking I had to make the most of our allotted hour by rowing away for the whole time. Like life right? Trying to make the most of every waking hour?

Kayaking requires rowing, but what the instructor did not teach me was that I could stop and rest from time to time. That I could stop and enjoy just sitting in the boat and being slowly carried along.

I learned from my sister that the full kayaking experience included pausing, resting, taking in the sights, sounds and sensations, and going again.

God taught us by example and rested on the seventh day. Jesus would get up early, and, away from the demanding crowds, he would spend time alone with God being restored to pour into the many who came to him daily for healing and teaching.

Some of us never learn that. It took sickness and burnout for me to learn, and I am still learning.

So, my sistas, row, row, row your boat, but stop and rest from time to time, and let yourself be gently rocked for a bit.

Your weekend reset tip

is to plan your month-long vacation from now. Don’t do like me and wait until thirty years have passed to take a real restoring break. Short breaks are equally important. They kept me going until I could take the long break, so meanwhile, take your short breaks.

Starting this weekend. Do something to rest your body, and renew your mind and spirit - read a fun book, bathe or walk on the beach, spend time chatting with a friend, window shop, or sleep in. Please share in the comments. I would love to know what you do to restore your body, mind, and spirit.

Are you exhausted from the wear and tear of life? Do you feel depleted and long for a recharge but don't know where to begin. I am only a chat away. I would love to hear from you. You can schedule a FREE coaching call with me HERE to see whether my 'Recharge & Reset' Coaching Programme is for you.