Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash
I’d let a good thing die.
After working hard to develop a consistent routine of volunteering at our local food pantry and giving plasma, I’d stopped doing both.
It started around the holidays when things were busy. Then I got sick. Then my edits for my debut book arrived from my editor. Then I helped my wife with an extended tour for her latest novel. Then the rough draft for my second book was due.
Before I knew it, months had gone by since I’d last volunteered. While I knew in some ways the break was justified, I still felt guilty. I’d been gone for so long that the thought of going back gave me low-level anxiety. What would the other regular volunteers think or say? Not to mention that inertia had set in. Now that I’d stopped, I was less motivated to go back.
After I met my deadlines, I was out of excuses. I took the plunge and did a shift at the food pantry and gave plasma again. The anxiety I had going in disappeared after about thirty seconds. The other volunteers were happy to see me. I fell right back into my comfortable routine. It felt great to get back to giving back.
Life happens. We get busy. We lose focus. Our carefully crafted mental / emotional / spiritual / physical healthy habits get set aside. When you find yourself in that place, remember two things:
You’re human. This is normal. Beating yourself up is not helpful to you or anyone else. Give yourself some well deserved grace.
Those routines you set aside are there waiting for you. Don’t overthink it. Pick up where you left off and keep going. You’ll be surprised how easy it is once you simply get moving.
Have any of your healthy habits fallen by the wayside? Give yourself grace. Start again. You’ll feel a renewed sense of energy and peace, and you’ll be back on the road to Becoming Yourself.
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An interesting application of “inertia” Matt! The demands of an active life have a way of conflicting any existing inertia. Some of it is unavoidable. Some of the change of focus is self serving……for good or…..? In your message I believe that you have challenged me to assess how my time is spent. Thanks for, once again, recharging my mental mental inertia!
HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!
Bob
Thank you so much for that Bob! Inertia is such a common element of life that we need to address at various times. I'm so glad this was helpful in examining yours :) Happy Easter to you!
Hello Matt
Thanks for your personal story and advice, that's very good ??
Feeling guilty is a very interesting subject and even if it is a sign of conscience and humaneness, in my opinion it is also sometimes a serious problem that causes low self-esteem or even self-loathing.
I wrote a blog post on that issue, I hope you will check it out: https://singleloverelation.wordpress.com/2022/06/12/self-loathing-how-i-was-taught-to-feel-guilty-in-a-past-life/
Thanks so much for the great feedback, Jens! I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. And thanks also for sharing the link to your post! I read it and found both your story and perspective so interesting. Keep sharing your thoughts with the world! You're helping to make it a better place. All the best
Thanks for the encouragement, Matt ??