Four years ago, our family came really close to going crazy. My daughter’s seizures were spiraling out of control. My oldest son was making so really poor choices. My two younger boys were feeling lost and left out. My wife was getting buried in nursing school prerequisites. I was struggling to keep up with my new job.
We were being ruled by our calendars. Slaves to our smartphones. We had no time to think or reflect or appreciate the good in our lives, or do anything but instinctually react to stimuli. We knew there was more, but we couldn’t figure out how to rediscover it.
So we forced a slow-down. We called our parents, secured a sitter for the kids, and left everything behind for 72 glorious hours.
It was the best thing we could have done.
Our weekend was filled with a lot of nothing. The first morning we leisurely perused the streets until we found a local bakery for breakfast. We sat for an hour, just enjoying the food, the coffee, and each other. For the first time in what felt like years, we finished a conversation (!) instead of being interrupted by our children.
We found a crazy mirror maze and giggled and pointed as each other until we escaped. We watched an airplane show from the back of a speedboat in the middle of the lake. We discovered what pizza is supposed to taste like at Giordano’s. We decided together not to go on the ferris wheel.
Before this weekend, we had lost the freedom to love because of our schedules. We had forgot what we enjoyed most about each other. We were slaves to crazy, but we broke free. Because we forced a timeout.
We created an in-between time in the midst of busy and change and fear and concern and worry. We did discuss some of our family challenges over this weekend, and arrived at some strategies to better deal with our family. And our marriage is better for it.
Sometimes life gives us slow seasons, built in rest periods to appreciate. But sometimes it is up to us to build those in-between periods into our lives. Either way, it is so important for us to take these moments. In order to consider how to overcome our current challenges. To celebrate the victories from our past. To remember who we are. To remember why we love the people we love and do the things we do. To rediscover ourselves.
Do you need to consider slowing down and appreciating the best things in your life?
If you are interested in reading more about these in-between periods, my writing colleague Jeff Goins has written a book on this, fittingly enough titled The In-Between. The book officially releases on August 1, but is available for pre-order now. If you do pre-order you will get some nifty extras with your purchase.
I am celebrating with you, for you
Thanks Christa
Thank you for the reminder to slow down and enjoy my life. I think today is a good day for a bike ride.
Wow. How nice. 🙂
We need another Chicago weekend here soon.
You and me both. I so identified with your post.
It is easy to get into “to-do list” mode and stop enjoying life. I hope you get that bike ride in. I know I won’t be going outside unless totally necessary. CRAZY hot here in Phoenix still
Loved the post, Chris. Just loved it.
In-between.,… Jeff’s latest. What a reminder to the rest of us.,Thank you for sharing Chris.
It can be hard to remember, when life gets busy
Thanks Anne!
My wife and I have 5 kids, so an occasional get-away to have some of those uninterrupted conversations are vital. By the way–I’m here from the suggestion of Chad Jones. Glad he gave the recommendation.
Chad is a GREAT dude, and a good friend. Glad to see you Matt! We have four kids, and it’s so vital to remember what it means to just be married
What a great idea, to take a break in the middle of the craziness instead of waiting till it’s over. There are so many times when my marriage would have benefited from doing that.
Thanks, Chris! You’re a great dude yourself (not just in height). 🙂
Forgetting to slow down can have disastrous consequences. Thanks for the timely reminder, Chris!
Sometimes our pace just adds to the stress. Admittedly, we cannot always take the time away, but if we can…we should
Way too easy to forget, isn’t it?