Yesterday, as I was exiting Publix {aka my favorite grocery store], I overheard an exasperated woman speaking with a friend on the phone. As we rolled our carts through the parking lot, she ranted about how she had gone constantly from one thing to the next for the past several days and had no rest. She was beyond exhausted. I thought about something I scribbled in my doodle journal a couple of months ago, and started to share the words with her. But when I looked back at her—mid-rant, pushing a full grocery cart, phone securely attached to her ear—it did not feel appropriate.
That’s how I’ve been feeling about my blog posts lately. I’ve drafted several over the last few months that I cannot bring myself to post. Why? I really can’t say, but something in me says, “Not appropriate.” “Not now.” So, I’ve heeded that inner voice.
But, maybe, you need to hear what propriety prohibited my sharing with the stressed out and over-scheduled parking lot woman—especially as we head into the second busiest time of the year for some of us:
When you’re on “E” [empty], rest and refuel. Turn off the devices. Sleep. Take a long soak in the tub. Journal. Take out your pen and paint and create. Do what you must to fuel your body and soul and to feel human again.
Of course, it would be better to not allow yourself to get to “empty,” so here’s an extra bit of counsel:
Learn to find rest in the small moments.
These are the little bits my inner voice will allow me to share. Let’s see what she permits next. 😉
About the Image: I am still sensitive to the various pollens and scents of outdoors, so I am sharing an older picture. I shot the crepe myrtle while in New Orleans late last summer. I was drawn to the smooth bark and the pink and green against the blue sky.
I usually join Parul Thakur for #ThursdayTreeLove every second and fourth Thursday of the month. If you would like to play along, post a picture of a tree on your blog and link it back to her latest #treelove post.
Pics and Posts 
Yes, find rest in the small moments. Rest, reflect, renew, and refresh. Most of all, rest in His presence. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
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In His presence indeed–where rest is truly found! Thank you!
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Hope you can find time to refresh and rest as the semester winds down. I am a fellow pollen sufferer and sadly it prohibits me from enjoying the outdoors in spring.
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Things have improved a little this week, thankfully. And rest is on the way–just have to get beyond two more weeks of meetings.
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Really, really wise advice. I do think you were right to not share this with that women in that moment. I know, having been her from time to time, if feels sometimes like you must schedule rest and there’s just no time. But you know, and I do too now, that it’s not true. We MUST carve out the time or we will get too empty to do anything right.
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Indeed! Empty is not an enjoyable state. Avoid at all cost!
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I appreciate you sharing these words of wisdom from your Doodle journal, Chandra Lynn.
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Thank you, Lady!
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Wise words indeed. I’m glad you chose to share them.
Blessings to you today.
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Blessings to you too!
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Wisdom beyond your years, Chandra. The more illusive rest seems to be in our lives, the more we need it. “Rest in the small moments” ought to be achievable for all of us!
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Yes, yes…thank you for dropping in and affirming!
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I’ve found that most messages are not for the people in front of me, but rather, for whoever reads my blog.
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