I was on Twitter the other day…which is a statement that usually precedes the latest conspiracy theory…when I noticed a posting on The Mindful Meditation.
Think for a minute about how important that simple statement is.
How often have you heard (usually from a busy person), “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” You often hear that when you tell someone to take a break, rest, or take a nap. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” I don’t think anyone who knows my wife would be surprised to hear she says that a lot. Since I had a stroke a few years ago, I usually answer her with “Sleep or you will be dead.”
I’m not saying the reason I had a stroke was because I didn’t get enough sleep at night but I’m sure that didn’t help. They’ve never actually determined why I had a stroke but at the time I was working 4 or 5 part time jobs to make ends meet after I was fired from my full time job of 25 years. While it’s true I was getting some severance pay and some friends said I should just sit back, take some time and figure out what I wanted to do, that wasn’t the way I was raised. I didn’t have a job, I need to find one and if this is only going to be part time then I needed something else to make up the difference. Now I wasn’t working 5 different jobs a day. I was working part time on a morning radio show at WPLM in Plymouth. At the same time I was doing high school sports occasionally for New Bedford Cable Network while also traveling to Martha’s Vineyard every Friday to do high school football for an internet company. At the same time I was doing an education show for the local cable network and doing some occasional wedding deejay work. Not everything every day but still tiring. Was I taking care of myself? No. I figured that could wait for another time but I guess God, or whatever higher power you relate to, had other plans.
When exactly did “taking care of yourself” start looking like “you’re lazy?” In our “multi-tasking” society we seem to be afraid to take time for ourselves. “I’ve got too much to do” or “I’ll be fine” are all part of our jargon.
Think about that statement though. “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.” Isn’t that true? If you keep pouring from a pitcher or coffee pot because someone wants more and more, won’t you eventually run out? Isn’t it the same with your time? Your efforts? Your advice? Your life?
If you don’t stop and refill the coffee pot or the pitcher of water, no one will be able to drink and there will be nothing left for you when you’re thirsty. Just like we need to pause and refill, you need to pause and refresh. Refill your tank.
Just like the “bottom of the pot” is not the best tasting coffee, the bottom of your pot of energy is not as good as when your pot was full.
Take care of yourself so that you can continue to take care of others. It’s not lazy. It’s what you need to do to continue to be your best.
I often find inspirational thoughts on Twitter. I also tell my wife the main reason I go on the site is to find cute puppy pics.
Miss any prior Sunday Columns? Catch up by clicking here.
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