Check Oxygen Level

I am on my second day off from both my jobs and I am feeling a little lost. I debated about taking some work home to do while on vacation, then decided against it since doing work would be the antithesis of a vacation.

So here I am on my second day wondering what to do with myself.  The first day my head was spinning with too many ideas of what I could do.  Take down Christmas decorations...naw, too gloomy.  Work on my Creative Memories...nope, I'd have to organize and order pictures and that would take too long.  Clean my house, read a book, clean my bathroom, re-organize my cabinets, paint my kids' bathroom, plant some flowers, clean out my garden, watch a movie, and the list goes on.

What I have realized in the last two days is that I don't know what I would personally want to do.  In all my busyness of my family and two jobs, I have seemed to have lost me in the mix.  I tend to focus on what others would want me to do.  What do my children, husband, family, friends need from me?  What tasks need to get done to keep life moving and everyone happy?

Being someone who enjoys to serve others and actually finds life and energy in doing so, it is opposite my personality to think of myself.  Life is all about balance and I know serving others too much (whether that be family, friends, work or other areas of service) can only be maintained if at some point I stop and focus on my needs too.  I know Jesus Himself had to slip away and find moments of refreshing and connecting to the Father.

I had a friend recently tell me to use the "airplane rule."  Put oxygen on yourself first, before helping other passengers. 

So my garden and movie won out.  My to-do list still stands.  My house is still a mess.  But I am enjoying extra moments to breathe in a little deeper, spend some time in prayer and experience the peaceful and quiet side of life.