Gliding

​Coasting Vs. Paddling
My husband and I just came back from an awesome mini vacation in Florida. A vacation with him always involves a lot of fitness so we kayaked for two days. 
Honestly, I didn’t think I needed the vacation, I missed two work events, and am very driven. Otherwise known as, FOMO (Fear of missing out), which 
Contributes to adrenal exhaustion. Studies show how Social Media plays into this, as they feel left out of other activities. Social media tends to give us little bursts 
Of dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitters, it gets released with a reward response in the brain. Anyhoo, this can actually be hard on our nervous systems. 
Once I got there, however, I realized how on edge I was, have been… The first two days, we were very active, I noticed my edginess in the evening,
And I was TIRED. I went to bed around 8 every night, on VACATION. I really didn’t want to be around a lot of people. 
I am an acupuncturist and my husband, and I have three kids between us, three tweens, I have to add. 
But, NO, I hadn’t been stressed, I wasn’t run down, I just needed to keep working. 
Maybe it was being around a lot of retired senior, but within three days, I felt ready to retire. The problem is, was, 
That I am only 41. How am I going to keep going, pushing and pushing? I have worked and gone to school most of my life. 
I started a second business about a year ago, which involves learning a whole new product line, I am an Acupuncturist and I run my own business. 
I have three kids and a husband. 
I am on several coaches mailing list and feel bombarded with information every day. I think many can relate to that, people often unsubscribe to me 
Newsletter, and I get, with social media and all these “go-getters” in the world, we are constantly being asked to DO, more more more.
If I don’t do it all, then where am I? Am I ok? Am I living up to my potential? 
I can’t help but remember the feeling of gliding on a kayak.
My husband and I usually share one. I am actually quite strong, I dance, practice massage therapy, and do yoga. I am stronger than I thought!
BUT It is nice, when we kayak together, we can both paddle through the rougher currents, or we can both glide through the smoother parts. 
When I got back, it felt very hard. I didn’t want to leave there. When we got home, my husband was sick, we came home to a dead car, 
A dead refrigerator, and dishwasher on the fritz (yes, first world problems). 
I started getting back into my business, but I just don’t feel like PUSHING, what happened to gliding? Can we get through rough patches, and just? 
Glide. I am 41. I have worked so hard to get to a place of flexible nice lifestyle; do I need to keep pushing? When does it end? 
Is this a sprint or a marathon? 
So right now, I want to glide and see what happens. Today I was meditating on the idea of miracles. How about that? How about gliding and 
Seeing new things with wonder, in Florida it was the crystal-clear reflection of the trees in the water, creating a perfect mirror and alternate 
Upside down reality, mangroves with barnacles and birds sitting proudly in the trees, some waiting, some making noise, some with wings expanded. 
My new story is to paddle and glide. How about ease? In our culture, why do we need to push so much? 
Perhaps we can flow with nature more, paddling when we need to, staying strong, and gliding intermittently.