Has Your Well Run Dry?
by Angie Mizzell
“I need a little more key lime pie in my life,” I said to my husband as I bit into a sliver of yummy goodness. I was still in my PJ’s, standing with the refrigerator door open, eating dessert before I had poured my first cup of coffee.
He laughed and said, “You should blog about that.”
“Hmm. Good idea. I think I will.”
What does key lime pie have to do with anything? Besides the fact that it’s awesome? Let me explain.
Typically, I’m a pretty motivated mama. But this week, I turned to mush. The to-do list had gotten so long, I just wanted to crawl under the covers and hide. Sleep for days. I was having a mom code red– just one step away from my brain oozing out of my ears.
My well had run dry, and it was time to fill it back up.
I started by accepting reality. I was being unrealistic about what I wanted to accomplish and the time I had allotted to do it. So I decided to send my son to preschool four mornings a week instead of two, at least until I get some high priority projects off my plate.
I acknowledged the guilty feelings that came up and decided he needs a mom with her brain in tact. Guilt, gone.
Then, on Friday afternoon, I turned it off. My brain that, is. The part that worries, stresses and obsesses about all I have to do. I took the kids to lunch. Saturday morning, I met a girlfriend for coffee. That night, we had some more friends over for dinner (enter key lime pie).
The next morning, I started my day with a simple indulgence and an honest statement that inspired this blog post. I felt relaxed and rested, and I noticed a little buzz in my step as I wheeled the cart through the grocery store later that day. As I write this, I am energized and ready to get back to work.
Problem solved. No oozing brain, no need to sleep for days. Turns out I just needed to give myself a little break.
Is your well running dry? What’s the one thing you can do to start filling it back up?
Don’t schedule it, don’t plan it, just do it!
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This is so me lately! I have so much I want to do since I am taking a break from treatment…but knowing I may be starting new stuff after Duke..so I feel like I must smash it all in to these few weeks and it just gets too crazy overwhelming! SO what I do to fill back up is to scrapbook with friends and even though I feel bad about leaving my children since I love to be with them as much as I can. I think it makes me a better mommy and wife to “get away”! I usually do this once a month but haven’t been able to crop in about a year…BUT this coming weekend is an all weekend crop to go and hang with friends and I know I said I scrapbook..but really I never get anything done b/c I tend to talk and just hangout with everyone…So on Sunday when I come home I will be refreshed! This is how I fill back up!!!!
I’m so glad I decided to bring key lime pie over….
We had a great time!!! We adore your family and you inspire me sooooooooo much!!!
Keep writing girl……. You have a gift!!!
Mmm, key lime pie. It IS awesome. I might have to go get me some.
BTW, if your son’s anything like mine, he probably loves going to school 4 days a week. Don’t feel guilty about that.
Such a great post! Thanks for letting me know about it, Angie! I’m trying really hard to watch the level of my well throughout the day–mainly because I get grumpy with my children when I realize I’m running on empty. I think it’s natural for us to feel guilty when our children want more than we can give, but you’re right–we want them to have a sane mommy. Even now, it’s after bedtime, and my little boy keeps coming down to talk. I want him to know I love him and listen to him, but it’s okay for me to say, “Honey, we’ll talk tomorrow. Mommy’s having quiet time now.” I hope he won’t be too traumatized
. Thanks again!