From the desk of Natalie Hughes:
Well, I don’t know what it is about this time of year, but this past week was a whirlwind for me. If I caffeinated, multiplied myself by two and I stayed up with myself for seven nights we might have been able to fit every task in; clearly that didn’t happen, and my laundry room is proof.
This causes the little perfectionist on my shoulder some stress, (I’ve talked about her before) and she is not about feeling the feelings and reaching inner peace. She is all about getting things done without fail, nattering incessantly as the day grows long.
The whirlwind seems like a productive place. We are moving quickly, plowing through the all-important “to do list” and barely breathing for fear of wasting time. We are making the calls, running the errands and spinning the plates! What a rush of adrenaline! I think I may even have an addiction to the whirlwind rush… a junkie for activity overload who is either spinning like the Tasmanian devil or face down on the bed in withdrawal. In fact, I’ll even admit here and now that I may be setting my own life up for this cycle of insanity.
Well, you know there’s got to be a drawback. In addition to the harmful stress/cortisol reaction happening in the body, small choices made in tense moments when we are less likely to be in tune with the true stirrings inside of ourselves can add up to a big impact on where we are headed. Weight loss and weight gain happen a few calories at a time… slipping into a depressed emotional state or climbing out of it also happens one small moment after another of either allowing or not allowing ourselves a moment to connect to our body and spirit. When we move too fast, we misinterpret the physiological signs that are being sent – signs that we are hungry or full, happy or frustrated – and we are more likely to slip into old patterns like over-eating or having one too many glasses of vino.
If you’re experiencing autumn as a scurrying, nut gathering squirrel like I am, walk through some questions with me:
Is it possible to build breathing room into my day? Where can I make moments for clarity?
Am I building my own insane life by over-scheduling? What life-sucking tasks can I eliminate or delegate?
What can I hire someone to do? The painting? The shoveling? The cleaning?
There’s someone out there who needs work. Pay it forward – let them do the task for a small fee.
What is the hole I’m trying to fill with this busy schedule? Do I have some layers to peel off down deep?
After a bit too much sodium and random food grazing this week, I asked myself these questions and then spent some time in front of the piano belting out the song, “Stand Still” with nobody watching. I’m happy to say, I’ve slowed my racing heart and embraced lettuce again.
Peace to you as you continue your busy life,
Natalie Hughes
Singer/songwriter
Musical Director – Crystal Andrus Productions
www.nataliehughes.com
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P.S. – “Stand Still” is one of six songs on the upcoming EP, ” Beauty” set for release on iTunes in December 2011.