For those who are tired and weary

It’s the week between Christmas and the new year.

Are you tired and weary? I know I am.

November is crazy for us. December is…well, December. I know I don’t need to list the 672 things I had to do this month. We all had to do them. We’ve all had our own additional challenges and set-backs, too.

I feel spread thin.

As Bilbo Baggins said… “I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.”

From this post on Seth Godin’s blog:

Most individuals and organizations complain of not having enough butter. We need more resources, we say, to cover this much territory. We need more (time/money/staff) to get the job done.

What happens if instead of always seeking more butter, we find the discipline to cover less bread?

Spreading our butter too thin is a form of hiding. It helps us be busy, but makes it unlikely we will make an impact.

It turns out that doing a great job with what we’ve got is the single best way to get a chance to do an even better job with more, next time.

I know a lot of us feel like we’re sliding into the new year battered and bruised, exhausted and spent.

You might even be hiding. We all know how to hide so well.

It could be in your personal life, your spiritual life, your work life or in your business…you’ve worked and worked and worked and you’re just DONE.

I actually love the day AFTER Christmas, when the gifts have been given and the fridge is stocked with leftovers. It’s a day to kick back, rest and play with your new toys. The expectations are over. I wrote about it here.

If you’re like me, you might be looking forward to a fresh start in 2021. That could be exciting, or overwhelming.

I know I need to make first things first again. I need to turn my attention back to my family and home. I need to pick back up my daily Bible study habit. I need to write a book and maintain all the decluttering I did.

But first…I need to rest. And figure out how to cover less bread.

December has been relatively peaceful, better than years past…but I still feel the strain, the pressure. I know that once January starts, I’ll blink and it will be June.

So I’m going to make rest a priority.

Those extra obligations? I’ll be stepping away from them. I’m going to take a break from social media. I’m going to turn inward, take time to be with my kids and not drive myself crazy with making 2021 my best year EVER. I’m all about improving oneself and taking action…but only after you’ve had some time for introspection and renewal.

If you’re tired and weary and you need permission, I’m giving it to you…