More and less

On the last day of just about every vacation, I ask myself: “What do I need to do more of and what do I need to do less of when I go home?”

It’s a running conversation. Some ideas have been there awhile and are still being worked on. Some are new, influenced by the location, culture, or my travel buddies. I sift and refine a list in my mind each time. This time I have written them down:

I need to do more beach vacations. The sun melts through the fog and the cool breezes blow through my mind to relieve me from the same old thinking. The powerful crashing waves cleanse my soul from the responsibilities and the hurts I have been carrying. The sandy shore sculpted by the rhythm of the waves reminds me how God is shaping me. The myriad shells and diversity of tiny creatures reveal God’s abundant life and individual provisions.

Watching the waves roll in and the sun glistening on the surface brought my distracted thoughts into better perspective. I have been in a productive mode so long, and I know there is more to life than productivity. I sense the Spirit telling me to allow more space for His influence, without planning every minute. In this stage of my life, I can change gears; I am privileged to be free for more of where He leads me…and the possibilities are endless when I am willing. I can spread my wings, open my mind, and pray in new ways for those I care about.

Every good vacation adds new colors to my palette so I can think and create again in a wider spectrum. My confidence and boldness grow as I ponder the ways I can trust God more. I remember the multitude of times He has proven Himself trustworthy throughout many life experiences. I am so very grateful.

I can trust more, worry less; be grateful more, grumble less; be humble more, judge less; speak up more, hold back less.

Joy floods in as I am free to laugh more, and to be less self-conscious. Oh, how great it feels to relax, to let my hair down (“beach hair, don’t care”), to enjoy the little things and hope for big things. It’s freeing to let go of the responsibility of having all the answers, while continuing the quest of pondering important life questions. I’m thankful for lifelong learning and many things yet to explore.

This past week was an exhilarating freedom from a year of careful living in pandemic. I learned it is okay to splurge occasionally, to wear and use my favorite things, not just save them for a special occasion, but to make those special occasions.

I loved that we woke every muscle in our bodies through a variety of exercise: biking, kayaking, aqua stretching, yoga, beach walking, and aerobics. My body still loves to be challenged and my brain still loves to learn.

I am refreshed, thankful, grateful, blessed, yielded, open, and willing.