From Burnout to Bloom

Good morning beautiful people! 

I’ll be the first to admit that I can get off track, be a little unbalanced, and most definitely not prioritize effectively. In fact, my plants told me so last night. 

You see, lately, I’ve been burning the candle at both ends in EVERY arena of my life. Personally, professionally, emotionally, you name it, I’m burning it. I’ve had a few late work nights recently, and I was planning on “just one more". However, after looking at my upcoming schedule, I decided it would be best to call it a day, regroup, refocus, and triage the lists, tasks, priorities, must-do’s, can-do’s, and HAVE-to’s … sound familiar?! 

Y’all feel it, too? The pressure, the pushing, the responsibilities? It can get overwhelming at times, right?!

Typically (for me anyway), when it gets to that overwhelming threshold, we are already neglecting OUR NEEDS and the needs of those who love us and are in our village. 

My plants made that abundantly clear to me last night.

I’ve been gone and absent. Even when at home, I wasn't productive. I was going through the motions. 

Prior to this hiccup, I had been doing SO well with my self-care, diet, work, life, and spiritual balance. Then once again, I let life’s “have-to’s, must-do’s, and will-do’s” completely derail me.  

I was derailed to the point I felt absent from myself, my people, and all the progress I made in certain areas of my life. That is what happens when we begin to slip in our goals to prioritize our wellness. 

This cycle eventually leads to a crash, burn, and rise from the ashes. Again, here I found myself. Ever so slowly, veering off track. If not realized, I would have kept veering, and eventually, wouldn't have been able to see any of the track at all. Sure, a new track might appear. I may build one or borrow one, but nonetheless, I would need to start anew. This, my friends, is a cycle. One that can be broken. One that can be transformed into a healthy cycle established in its place.

Thankfully, there is support for all of us. In my case, I find support in my faith, amazing husband, son, family, friends, cat Fat Grace, dog Dozer, AND MY PLANTS, who spoke ever so quietly to me last night.

You see, when I arrived home, they (my plants) reminded me that I’m NOT tending my garden … they looked sad, droopy, dry … and unloved. 

I noticed them when I went upstairs to retrieve my briefcase so I could finish up a few things while Rich, my husband, and I watched a movie with dinner on our couch.

But when I went upstairs, I never came back down.

My beautiful plants beckoned me. I asked Rich to come upstairs and resume our date night there. We had the most wonderful conversations while I tended my garden. 

I pruned, irrigated, watered, tied up, and rearranged our whole dining room into a makeshift ICU so that they would be able to soak up LOTS of sunshine in the morning.

Just as I tended my beloved plants by rearranging. I’m waking up in the morning and preparing for my own sunlight! Choosing to get right back on track and rearranging the days and weeks to come with ME in mind.

Because when ME is good, I’m better for my village! When YOU prioritize your wellness, your village will thank you and be better for it too!

SO, in a nutshell … 

KEEP SHOWING UP

Even if you get off track, keep striving for balance. Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t spend too much time off the rails. Rearrange until your health, happiness, responsibilities, and village are all being tended to in a way that makes your roots dig deeper and your leaves reach toward the sky!