Mind says NO, Body needs YES.

My mind is constantly racing, running the rat race along with everyone else in this world, pacing back and worth wondering what else needs to be done. Can it be put off until tomorrow? “No,” she says. What if I just take a quick break? “Not yet,” she answers forcefully.

This may sound like you too. SHE is a woman on a mission. Never slowing down, convinced burnout moves too slowly to reach her fast paced stroll through life. Just one more minute and I’ll be done, only to get back up again – continuing the daily drudgery.

Your MIND can grind – sometimes effortlessly but every so often and perhaps OFTEN – your thoughts interrupt you, a quiet whisper wisely advises you to take it easy. You ignore the silent hum telling you to stop for a second. Your BODY takes the brunt of the battle – trying to keep up with how quickly your mind stirs, back and forth until she is too weary but too restless for sleep.

- WEDNESDAY MORNING -

I wake up, sleepless from the night before. The morning brings with it a sharp shooting pain, from my neck to my back. I think to myself, as I struggle to turn my head from one end to the other – “There is no way I’m missing work for this…”

But I did. Admittedly a doctor advised me, “It’s best to stay home and rest.”

REST? As in, do NOTHING all day!? Why yes, that is called rest and your mind and body desperately crave it. I stopped myself in my tracks – your mind is telling you NO, but your body is telling you YES. Most often times it is your shell – taking on every ounce of stress produced by your mind – that bears the burden of overload. I think our bodies – if they are acutely tuned to our minds – know exactly the right time to shut down, sending a big flashing warning signal – “STOP. If you won’t, then I’ll make you.” It can be disguised as a sudden onset of unexplainable neck pain – or a bad cold.

No one should have to reach that point, but many of us do. Wait a minute, most of us do. How many people drag themselves into work, suffering from stuffy noses and a nails on a chalkboard cough? The world is burnt out. We are burning candles at both ends of the stick, and guilting ourselves into thinking this is what makes us great – but trudging through the wee hours of the night whether it’s an unruly mind or petered body will catch up to you.

My point is: Slow down – OR something will happen that will force you to slow down. Hopefully it’s just a cold or neck pain – but these are gentle reminders of what life’s purpose is.

Living each day – fully. Letting those around you know how much you love and appreciate them.

I love quotes – so I will end with this by Dr. Martha Friedman, “ Success based on anything but internal fulfillment is bound to be empty.”

XOX, Nineveh