Hello, and happy Monday.
Words to Navigate by: “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” — Anne Lamott
This week’s Monday Morning Minute is going to be a bit shorter and different. It is primarily about taking time to recharge, reboot, regenerate, and reenergize.
I’m writing from Leavenworth, Washington; where Becky and I are taking a few days away. (The title art above was generated from a photo taken from our hotel patio.)
We’re enjoying a change of scenery, the time together, and an opportunity to step outside our normal routines; even if we do wish the weather was a little cooler and the skies a little less smoky!
A year ago, I wrote an MMM article titled, “Can’t light the way with an empty lamp.”
The message was simple: we cannot continue giving our best to others when we have allowed ourselves to become depleted.
We can’t pour from an empty cup.
We can’t shine brightly from an empty lamp.
And sometimes, we need to unplug before we can work properly again.
That advice is easy to offer. It can be much harder to follow.
There is always one more email to answer, one more task to complete, or one more responsibility demanding our attention. Even when we physically step away, our minds can remain tethered to everything waiting for us back home or at work.
From the Captain’s Log:
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” – John Lubbock, The Use of Life
Stepping away can restore perspective. A quiet morning, an afternoon off, a weekend getaway, or a genuine vacation can help us return with renewed energy… and perhaps see something we were too busy, or tired, to notice before.
So, this week, I’m taking my own advice.
I’m stepping away from my usual MMM format, enjoying some time with Becky, and allowing myself to recharge without feeling guilty.
Perhaps you need to give yourself permission to do the same.
You may not be able to take a vacation right now. But, could you take an evening off? Go for a morning walk? Put away your phone for an hour? Sit outside without accomplishing anything? Enjoy a meal with someone you love? Give yourself a little room to breathe?
“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” — Sydney J. Harris
The bottom line: taking a break is not abandoning what matters. Sometimes, it is how we prepare ourselves to return to what matters.And that often happens with more energy, patience, perspective, and presence.
So, let me ask:
Where might you need to step away for a little while… so you can return as a better version of yourself?
How will you live, love, or lead differently or better this week?
Bryan Yager
“Expanding Your Capacity for Success”
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Captain’s Log: Words to Navigate By:
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“Rest is not idleness…[it] is by no means a waste of time.” — John Lubbock
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“Every person needs to take one day away, a day in which one consciously separates the past from the future.” — Maya Angelou
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“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” — Mark Black
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“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.” – Katie Reed
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“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” — Jesus, Mark 6:31
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“Take a rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.” — Ovid
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“A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.” — Robert Orben
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“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow.” — Eleanor Brownn
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“It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.” – Mandy Hale
