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:
1. It’s okay.
You’re human. This is normal. Beating yourself up is not helpful to you or anyone else. Give yourself some well deserved grace.
2. Just start again.
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.