When your body says stop and your brain is slow, but you HAVE to show up . . . “Do I have to do it?”
I’ve been refining the answer to that question for years.
Today I have a large wedding to officiate. I have been too sick to do anything for 5 days. This is one instance where the answer is, “Yes you have to do it.” (I cannot find a replacement.)
I know I can use my will to override my body, and that has its advantages and disadvantages. I defied my body so many times when I was younger with unpleasant consequences in the long run.
There are so many things we think we HAVE to do, yet in reality very little than actually can’t be put off, or sometimes not even done.
“Will I disappoint my friend if I don’t show up?” “If I don’t go to that meeting, they won’t handle that project the way I want it done.” If I don’t get the laundry done it will just keep piling up.” It never stops.
But when we get sick enough we stop. Our bodies and our nervous systems need rest more often that we realize if we are not paying attention. It is so easy to override or ignore our own needs. (And I’m not even talking about our emotional and spiritual needs!)
As we age most of us begin to listen to our inner wisdom more of the time. As our bodies age, no matter how young we are in mind and Spirit, we may need to give it more time to refresh and renew. I find my nervous system gets frayed more easily and if I don’t take downtime to recover my body gets more contracted. Just as we may need more time to recover from an injury or illness, so too does our entire system need loving attention, meeting our needs day by day.
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being I’ve got this, 1 being I suck at taking downtime when I probably need to do so, where on the scale are you?
I’m not talking about exercising enough, or eating right, just being present enough and kind enough to your body to refresh and renew as needed.
