Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. – Ferris Bueller
When I was a kid, my father and I had a favorite movie we often watched called Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It’s hilarious, and a refreshing reminder that it’s okay to have some fun. The quote above is a memorable one from the film that deeply resonates with me. Sometimes I have to remind myself to slow down. I can’t do everything or be everything to everyone. I wasn’t meant to. But at times, I’ve felt I needed to show up for everyone and everything else and put myself and my needs on the shelf. This year I’ve finally realized and owned that I can fully embrace God’s peace and set boundaries with being on the go, in addition to, being the go-to friend or person that’s constantly tugged on for advice or help or prayer or ministry or any other additional demands on my time and energy. In a past season this year, I felt totally depleted and drained and once I slowed down a bit, I realized that I’d been attracting and oddly drawn to a number of clingy or needy people. I had to slow down, regroup, and make some changes. Instinctively, I’m into helping and encouraging others through their problems, a great listener, and again, the go-to for some people who sometimes seek or want or need sound advice, but I don’t believe a lot of people get how taxing that can be. Though I’ve slowed down and made some changes, I'm still growing in this area. When I slow down, I remember to have balance and pace myself. I know when it’s time to rest and have some fun. I’m able to show up and be my best self without feeling guilty for saying no or objecting to being pulled in different directions or drained. I don't want to work my life away and not enjoy it or worse, miss it. Life will keep going with or without me but slowing down and prioritizing what matters most is what I’m striving towards. I hope you strive for the same as well. Work hard and have fun. Be there for other people, but make sure you show up for you and take care of yourself too. And don’t forget to slow down when needed. You’ve got this.
One More Thing: For those of you who are the “go-to” folks in your family or circle of friends, please know, anytime someone continually seeks you out for advice or help and keeps making bad choices and decisions and refuses to change or listen and apply the sound advice you’ve given them? Don’t hesitate to pull back, get out of the way, and turn things over to God. Maybe God’s trying to teach them something, so step aside. And again, make sure you’re prioritizing yourself. Because you matter.