PEBBLE
Reset as many times as you need.
~Jen Schneeman, Real Human Performance, shared by Jenny of Clifton in Cincinnati, OH
BOULDER
It’s okay that the skeletons in my closet turn up once in a while. They show me how far I have come and help ensure I am not repeating the past!
~Mindy Holverson, written and shared by Mindy in Stoughton, WI
PONDER
I recently returned from hanging out with a remarkable group of humans who operate teacher resource centers around the country (Welcome to all our new NERC Ripplers!). One message I consistently share with people in the helping professions is that taking care of ourselves is an essential part of taking care of others. Apparently, I need occasional refreshers about this stuff, too!
Back home from my quick trip, both energized and exhausted, I planned to unpack, start some laundry, and whip up this issue before settling into some reset time. Instead, my determination slowly gave way to agitation. Writing felt like trying to stir wet concrete with a piece of rubber.
Then I glanced up at today’s Pebble. D’oh!
A couple of deep HERE NOW breaths helped me notice how long I’d been hunched over my laptop and how much the construction noise next door was grating on my nerves, so I scooted out for a brief walk in the crisp morning air. I came back refreshed from my break, and it turned out the workers were taking a break, too!
Mindy’s words in today’s Boulder remind me that familiar struggles can return even when we’ve made real progress. Sometimes that progress shows up in how we respond when they do. We can notice what’s happening, ease up on the self-judgment, and consider what kind of reset could help right now:
A short pause to catch our breath and recalibrate?
A longer break to provide a bit more space to rest and replenish?
Or maybe asking for help with something we’ve been carrying alone?
We can reset when we need to, return when we’re ready, and repeat as often as it helps. With practice, maybe we’ll get a little quicker at noticing what we need and a little gentler with ourselves along the way.
Peace,
Paul
P.S. Earlier this month I had great fun hanging out with members of the Team Ripples Patreon Community for our quarterly Zoomy Zoom. If you’d like to sample some of the ideas we explored, you can watch Fresh Finds & Friendly Nudges via YouTube, or listen to the latest episode of The Ripples Pondcast wherever you listen to podcasts.