to write again

"When you are fed up with life, start writing: ink is the great cure for all human ills."- C.S. Lewis

I have been thinking on this a lot lately. This is something I say often, but I can never find a way to put actions to my words. I really want to write again, and by write I mean writing way more than just a short Facebook post. I also want to get good it it. Writing was my first love, but writing has taken a back seat in my life right now. I honestly just do not have the brain power anymore. Not to complain, but I have almost no time to myself these days.  Don't get me wrong when I say this, because I love nothing more than my family and being a mother, but the constant demands of mothering has drained me. Teaching school, cooking meals, cleaning, always running from one thing to the next, then go to bed and repeat it all the next day. Throw in the stress of a cross cultural move that is looming over us, not knowing yet when that departure will be, and all the ramifications that come with that. I am pretty depleted these days.

I woke up one morning not wanting to get out of bed. I just didn't feel like I had the energy to start the day.  It suddenly occurred to me that I have not been taking care of myself. Really, in order for me to love and care for my family well, I have to start taking some time for soul care.
It’s like the stewardess says on a flight, “you must first put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” I will be of no use to those around me if I can’t breathe.

I need to set boundaries and find a way to make this all work.  So, I came up with a few action steps that I am endeavoring to take.


~Go to bed a little earlier- get enough sleep to function during the day.

~Read more good books, and less articles and social media chatter. Set a timmer for at least 15 minutes a day to read a book.

~Leave the house once a week by myself for the express purpose of drinking coffee in a coffee shop, and doing some freestyle, creative writing.

~Once it warms up a little bit, go outside and walk.  Breathing deep, and moving my body relaxes and refreshes me.

These steps sound very simplistic writing them down, but I feel like they will likely be a challenge. But I also see this as necessary, because my well is running out of live giving water, and I need to refill it.