We all need physical and mental relief from the daily traumas of life, especially if we are large and in charge, as most of us women are. We run kids, car pools, households, corporations, the lives of husbands, and special events. We hardly ever give ourselves a pat on the back, let alone a special treat for accomplishing great things. Ladies, may I give you some sage advice, please? As a friend often used to say to me, "Why don’t you just simply give yourself permission to resign as Mistress of the Universe? Then take some time off to develop a fresh perspective on how you want to expend your daily allotment of energy!" WHAT? You mean I get to choose how I use every single moment of life? You mean I can keep some of those precious energy units for ME? The truth is that unless we set clear boundaries around our own mental and physical health, we cannot successfully hold up our personal globes. Our arms eventually succumb to the weight of the world, even though we think we are invincible, having honed to perfection the female skill of multi-tasking.

 

When we find ourselves physically and emotionally destitute, we must put pennies in the bank!  Each time we make a deposit, it lines our nests with a reserve of strength that we can draw on in troubled and demanding times. An empty bank account equals brokenness. A full bank account equals strength and security. So let’s talk about how we can earn those pennies and build up that bank asset for a rainy day.

 

I make daily bank deposits with a walk in the woods. The park behind Norton’s Art Gallery is my favorite haven. Each time I arrive, the park greets me like an old friend - the smell of the woods, creatures great and small, the sun’s beams filtering through the giant pines - the perfect balance of nature balances me, in return for my visit. With each step on the path, I set intention to seek out the smallest creature in the woods and let it capture my undivided attention for a few moments. Taking the time to notice the smallest of things removes us momentarily from our own self-inflicted trauma and shows us how miniscfule we are in the scheme of things.  All God’s creatures have to  work for a living - spinning webs, pollenating flowers, building nests, and flying on their way to somewhere else. The goal is to do it with a song in our hearts and a lilt in our steps. 

 

If I am physically drained and cannot muster up enough strength to walk or do yoga, I put pennies in the bank by brewing a special cup of tea, pouring it gently into my favorite china cup and then allowing myself to melt into my happy chair. Cocoa nibs, mint and rooibos leaves blend together to create Mighty Leaf’s Chocolate Mint Truffle Tea. It is a real treat, almost calorie free, with a splash of warmed milk and Splenda - a perfect cuppa!  Don’t have a happy chair? Get one! Then make a commitment to designate it as a place of refuge where only positive thoughts and ideas are generated. Don’t have a favorite tea? Pick one! Then make a commitment to be still with it, to breathe and taste it in, as you contemplate the elegance of quietness.

 

If your bank account is in shambles and you have overdrawn yourself, make a huge deposit before the checks start bouncing and your health and well being are threatened. For me, there is nothing more healing than a vacation in the mountains - alone! My favorite escape is Mt. Magazine in Arkansas, a little less than a 6 hour drive from Shreveport. The lodge is beautiful, the trek to the top of the mountain to talk to God is relatively painless, and the hot tub in the room is my favorite place for a physical and emotional sobfest. We have always heard the adage, "Don’t you dare run from your problems. Face them head on and don’t be a coward." I don’t buy into that mindset anymore. There is something gained in flight - a momentary release, a symbolic thumbing of your nose to the issue, even if it is short lived. Capturing a fresh new perspective and creating an ingenious solution will only happen if you walk outside of your life for a few days.

 

Last, but certainly not least, try going to the closet! Walk in, sit down on a comfy pillow, turn off the lights, close the door behind you, and talk to the only One who can shed a beautiful light on your issues. His power is great - much greater than yours - and He alone can lift you out of your broken and exhausted state. We can truly relax when we willingly release our burdens and our traumas to the One who waits with open arms to help us walk through life. I stand in awe of how, with each and every visit, He fills my bank account to overflowing with pennies from heaven!         Sharon McCullar