Ever year of our marriage, we have taken time to get away to rest, refresh and reflect. Earlier in our marriage, it was to recharge from work. As time went on it was work and the responsibilities as parents and now at this point in our lives, it’s for a break from the day to day tasks, for a change of scenery or to get to a place we have not yet seen before. Although each stage of life is different, and the obligations are unique, what is constant is ( in my opinion) when one takes time to reflect, is that it allows time to step back and realize just how many blessings there are in our life. Each day we say our prayers for those we love and care for and prayers of thankfulness. Yet, I sometimes forget just how much there is to be grateful for. When one has time for a break, they have time to do this as well as other things.
Vacations are a time to catch up on sleep, read, exercise, take part in recreational activities, spend time with those we travel with, maybe do some sightseeing or do nothing at all. Vacations should be whatever we wish they would be, to rest, reflect and refresh, so that when we go back home, we feel that “our battery has been charged” and we are ready to resume our day to day work.
Our bodies were designed to work and be productive but also to rest. Likewise, God provided for a day of rest when he created the world. We cannot just keep going and going as our “battery will be depleted of energy.” Yes, there are people who depend on us for care like children, parents, extended family, customers, clients and patients. Young adults start their grown up lives ready to take on the world. Many times they get going, start working make friendships and relationships that last a lifetime, get married and start their own families. It is easy to get on the treadmill of life doing the necessities of the day taking care of everyone else. It takes mindfully being intentional, diligence and disciplined to take care of our bodies, finances, relationships and work responsibilities with balance.
Dr. Casey Means and her book, Good Energy, a NY Times bestseller, currently.
Maybe that’s why I was eager to read a book, while recently away to rest, reflect and refresh that I had heard much about by Casey Means, MD, Good Energy. She holds both an undergraduate degree and medical degree from Stanford University. Three years into her residency as an ear, nose and throat surgeon and with over $500,000 invested into her education, Dr. Means decided to walk away from conventional medicine, opting for a future in looking at the root causes of illnesses. She felt that the further she got into her residency, good intentioned doctors were very proficient at ‘fixing the symptoms’ rather than addressing what was causing them. She looked at the pressure doctors are under to prescribe medications and surgery, looking at the body as several separate systems, instead of looking at the body as a whole and taking a look at what is the root cause of the problem.
As I learned more about Dr. Means, listening to her speak about her work and book on a variety of podcasts and programs, I became fascinated at her ability to look deep into a very complicated issue and take on such a topic at a very young age. Currently, she is thirty-seven years of age. At the time she quit her residency, she was thirty-one. If I had to briefly explain the premise of her book, it would be that she looks at the metabolic health of the human body. Think back to biology class, and that the body is made up of trillions of cells. The cells replace themselves over and over. How those cells are nourished determines the health of those cells. If they are nourished with good nutrition, the quality of those cells and our entire body will be more healthy. If a body has more healthy cells than unhealthy cells, the good, will out weight the bad. A very elementary explanation, but I think you get the point. Cells are nourished also by good hydration, adequate sleep, exercise throughout the day, by not just a workout in a gym buy a non-sedentary lifestyle. Reducing sugar in the diet and eliminating processed foods, really things we all know, but Dr. Casey explains the why, of course, in much greater detail, this is just a summation.
In an interview, Dr. Means describes how she shops for her groceries from the local farm stands when possible and when returning home, she places the food on the table and she and her family pray over the food as this food will nourish them and produce the energy for them to live their lives and do the things they do each day. Now, this might not be something they do every week, we all know how busy our lives can be, but taking the time to look at the connection between the food we eat and how it is a gift to our bodies takes intentional thoughtfulness and mindfulness. This is a thought that has stuck with me since hear her described this action…
Taking time to rest, refresh and reflect is not something exclusive to a vacation or time away. It is something we can practice every day and every week. Consider taking a few moments or an hour a day. Maybe it’s some quiet time to pray or be reflective at the beginning, middle or end of the day. Every week, consider a day to rest, refresh and reflect to be grateful for the blessings in your life. Maybe it’s a day on the weekend. For us, it’s Sundays. We go to worship spend some time to set aside the day from the regular work week. These times may look different to everyone or every family, the significance is to set aside the time so that your mind and body can have a break.
Time to rest, refresh and reflect to be grateful for the blessings in your life? Consider all the possibilities when you take the time…Sounds like a Great Day to me 🌼
