Summers are meant to be fun, easy, and fun-filled. Not about must-do lists but rather about must-live lists.
But mine hasn’t been that so much. So far. I haven’t spent as much time writing here on the blog as I normally enjoy doing and have been wrapped up in work, and more work.
At the beginning of the summer I went paddleboarding for the first time and loved it. I proclaimed that I would make time 2-3 times per week to get out on the lakes and ‘feel the calm of water’.
But then life happened. I was stifled by my to-do and must-do lists and the more I crossed off ’em the longer they seemed to get.
I couldn’t catch up and I couldn’t find a peaceful moment to paddle the waters on the lake either. As far as my lists were concerned it wasn’t even registering.
Until this morning.
Teaching is SO important to me, and being there for classes and you is at the top of my must-do list. So call me surprised when one, lone, beautiful, named Rachel showed up for the 6:45 class and said…”I don’t want to do this if I’m the only one here”.
Was she reading my mind? I always want to teach. But lately I’ve been heavy with family stuff and work stuff and life stuff and on this morning I could’ve happily crawled under the covers and stayed there for days.
Instead Rachel suggested we head out on her paddle boards and cruise the lake.
My head said…you’re supposed to be teaching, and my heart said “PLEASE”! Thankfully I listened to my heart.
We made our way out to Lake Harriet and cruised across the smooth waters, chatting and connecting during the paddle. Then we had some fun doing different core exercises on the boards near the shore.
I tried to do a jump squat on on the board and tumbled into the water and 30 minutes later when I was getting into my car a bit wet (Rachel gave me a towel to help this out) I started crying.
I’ve been missing out. Because I’ve been so focused on the must-dos and the to-dos in my life I’ve been missing out on the must-lives.
This moment with Rachel was a must-live.
I also experienced a number of must-lives during the last two weeks with my family. I had opportunities to hang out with them while we were experiencing some rough waters, but while it was happening I was worried about what I had on my to-do list.
Now I see that this time was a must-live experience and I took it and lived it with the best I had to offer.
I will always remember it too, even though it was through rough waters. While I know I won’t remember what emails were sent out, or how many peeps showed up to class, or that I missed out on a few guest blog posts or new students because of my lack of response, I will remember my time with my fam.
And I will always remember the morning I showed up to teach, and instead Rachel taught me the best lesson.
How to let go and must-live on a paddle board.
xoxo, LVA-
I don’t know how to thank you for the must-lives times through the rough waters you have spent with me the last days, weeks, months, years, (30+ years to be exact). I love you so much and I am so proud of who you are, and who you are becoming …. the woman God meant you to be!