I begin by borrowing a page from my two weeks of German in College. I offer three new words for your consideration as you think about self-care of your body during new journeys. They are: LeavingBehindNess, UpsideDownNess, IDon’tKnowNess.
LeavingBehindNess is the reality that new journeys demand that we leave some things behind. We cannot take all of our lives with us when we head into a new place to live, a new job, a new relationship, or a new set of goals for our life. Let’s face it, the longer we live in one place (location, jobs, relationships, etc.) we acquire physical stuff. We also acquire habits, ways of doing things, and favored routines that depend on the status quo. When we set off on a new journey, many of these must be left behind to make room for new ways, new relationships, new routines. The anticipation of leaving some of this behind prevents us from embarking on the new journey all together. But even if we are able to get over the worst part of LeavingBehindNess, we will still have to work our way through the lingering effects when we start our new journey. This leads us to the second new word.
UpsideDownNess is the reality that our lives will be disrupted. When we leave behind the familiar paths and goals, things are no longer where they are supposed to be. The expected begins to fade as the unexpected and uncertain begins fogs our view. The stuff we count on becomes less reliable. Our world of routine and order becomes a world where up may be down and down, up. Our usual ways of dealing with surprises become less effective and we rediscover the need for creativity, or “seat-of-the-pants” flying. As we find our way deeper into our new journey, certainty and comfort will become strangers. Their disappearance will erode our confidence and sure-footedness along the path.
IDon’tKnowNess will steal away our certainty and the “easy” answers we have developed for ourselves. New journeys are messy. We have to deal with clutter. Old journeys comforts and choices may longer fit. Some stuff is left behind as new stuff is acquired. Old ways and new ways may be incompatible. We have to be more aware of our surrounding and pay attention to whatever information we have available to us. We are left in a disorienting world of “I don’t know!”
Leaving behind old ways leads to upside down lives that challenge us to fill in the huge gaps in the world both within and beyond ourselves. This is all very exhausting. It demands that we add a good dose of self-care to our new journey. Failure to do so will allow the energy to drain away. We may find ourselves “out of gas” and stalled on an unknown stretch of road. Or we may turn back and take refuge in the comfortable and familiar.
LeavingBehindNess is the reality that new journeys demand that we leave some things behind. We cannot take all of our lives with us when we head into a new place to live, a new job, a new relationship, or a new set of goals for our life. Let’s face it, the longer we live in one place (location, jobs, relationships, etc.) we acquire physical stuff. We also acquire habits, ways of doing things, and favored routines that depend on the status quo. When we set off on a new journey, many of these must be left behind to make room for new ways, new relationships, new routines. The anticipation of leaving some of this behind prevents us from embarking on the new journey all together. But even if we are able to get over the worst part of LeavingBehindNess, we will still have to work our way through the lingering effects when we start our new journey. This leads us to the second new word.
UpsideDownNess is the reality that our lives will be disrupted. When we leave behind the familiar paths and goals, things are no longer where they are supposed to be. The expected begins to fade as the unexpected and uncertain begins fogs our view. The stuff we count on becomes less reliable. Our world of routine and order becomes a world where up may be down and down, up. Our usual ways of dealing with surprises become less effective and we rediscover the need for creativity, or “seat-of-the-pants” flying. As we find our way deeper into our new journey, certainty and comfort will become strangers. Their disappearance will erode our confidence and sure-footedness along the path.
IDon’tKnowNess will steal away our certainty and the “easy” answers we have developed for ourselves. New journeys are messy. We have to deal with clutter. Old journeys comforts and choices may longer fit. Some stuff is left behind as new stuff is acquired. Old ways and new ways may be incompatible. We have to be more aware of our surrounding and pay attention to whatever information we have available to us. We are left in a disorienting world of “I don’t know!”
Leaving behind old ways leads to upside down lives that challenge us to fill in the huge gaps in the world both within and beyond ourselves. This is all very exhausting. It demands that we add a good dose of self-care to our new journey. Failure to do so will allow the energy to drain away. We may find ourselves “out of gas” and stalled on an unknown stretch of road. Or we may turn back and take refuge in the comfortable and familiar.
TIPS
Self-care of the body during new journeys require three simple skills. This is not complicated, but it can be intimidating. They are:
Listen to Our Body – We have been taught to ignore our body when we face challenges. Men and women have been encouraged to play through the pain. We have been encouraged to breathe through the pain. Unfortunately, this may have desensitized us to the messages our body sends us when we are facing the challenges of the new journey. It may be physical pain that is telling us to slow down and work smarter. It may be a calendar so crowded with “busyness” that we miss appointments and sacrifice healthy habits. Or, it could be frequent “colds” or other infections that pop up at the busiest times. Each of these are indications that something is wrong, and we need to pay attention to our body and physical lives.
Pace Ourselves – Generally this means we need to pace ourselves. Most new journeys are not sprints. They are marathons that require something more than mere speed. We need to carefully monitor what each part of the journey requires and reserve enough resources to reach the destination. The hare gave maximum effort and paid the price by coming in second to the tortoise. When the body starts talking to you, pay attention and adjust your pace. Take a break, slow down a bit, and give your body time to recoup.
Replenish Our Reserves – This is nothing more than the same advice we have heard over and over again. Eat well, drink plenty of fluids, and get enough sleep. Nothing new here, except that these tend to be the things we sacrifice first when we are starting a new and arduous journey. We need to pay particular attention to them when we are really enjoying the challenges or when we are fighting off the headwinds of the journey. “I’ll eat later.” “I can sleep then this is all over.” Unfortunately, “later” is a moving target that keeps getting put off. And “when it’s all over” may be too late. Self-care means being intentional about doing the simplest and most basic tasks of body care.
Listen to your body (actually your life) and learn to pace yourself while regularly replenishing your reserves. Your new journey demands the best that you have to offer and the first thing you have to offer is a well-cared for self.
Journey on,
Bob
Listen to Our Body – We have been taught to ignore our body when we face challenges. Men and women have been encouraged to play through the pain. We have been encouraged to breathe through the pain. Unfortunately, this may have desensitized us to the messages our body sends us when we are facing the challenges of the new journey. It may be physical pain that is telling us to slow down and work smarter. It may be a calendar so crowded with “busyness” that we miss appointments and sacrifice healthy habits. Or, it could be frequent “colds” or other infections that pop up at the busiest times. Each of these are indications that something is wrong, and we need to pay attention to our body and physical lives.
Pace Ourselves – Generally this means we need to pace ourselves. Most new journeys are not sprints. They are marathons that require something more than mere speed. We need to carefully monitor what each part of the journey requires and reserve enough resources to reach the destination. The hare gave maximum effort and paid the price by coming in second to the tortoise. When the body starts talking to you, pay attention and adjust your pace. Take a break, slow down a bit, and give your body time to recoup.
Replenish Our Reserves – This is nothing more than the same advice we have heard over and over again. Eat well, drink plenty of fluids, and get enough sleep. Nothing new here, except that these tend to be the things we sacrifice first when we are starting a new and arduous journey. We need to pay particular attention to them when we are really enjoying the challenges or when we are fighting off the headwinds of the journey. “I’ll eat later.” “I can sleep then this is all over.” Unfortunately, “later” is a moving target that keeps getting put off. And “when it’s all over” may be too late. Self-care means being intentional about doing the simplest and most basic tasks of body care.
Listen to your body (actually your life) and learn to pace yourself while regularly replenishing your reserves. Your new journey demands the best that you have to offer and the first thing you have to offer is a well-cared for self.
Journey on,
Bob
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