It’s amazing how much a simple Time Out can renew my zest for life. No matter how tired I become, it doesn’t take long to recharge my batteries.
Sleep is the best healer when I’m tired. But when I am weary, it takes more than sleep.
I need energy, real energy. Not coffee. Not stimulants. Not the jittery high of monster drinks. I need clean, pure energy to feed my cells.
I need sunshine on my face. I need a cool breeze to carry away my troubles. I need the smell of fresh-cut grass and blooming flowers to wake me up.
Some people are extroverted rechargers. They need the energy of people to put fuel in their tank. Others are introverted rechargers. They need quiet time alone to refill.
I need both. Time alone restores my faith and renews my soul. Time with people lifts my spirits and revives my hope in humanity.
I’m also boosted by words of encouragement. The right words at the right time are my rocket fuel. Lately, I’ve been liking the old saying of:
Onward and Upward
After a time out, I re-engage with life by saying to myself: Onward and Upward.
When a friend finally frees themselves from being stuck in the mud, I celebrate by saying: Onward and Upward.
When my co-workers are rockin’ their deliverables, I acknowledge their progress by saying: Onward and Upward.
I can hear the applause every time I say or write the words: Onward and Upward.
Ironically, the first time I heard the phrase it was spoken with sarcasm. A teacher I met only once said it after a harsh round of school funding cuts. They spoke the phrase with contempt because they were feeling powerless. I remember the defeated look in their eyes. I was young then, and I didn’t yet know what it meant to be weary.
That’s why I like the saying so much. It reminds me that we can be crushed by the disappointments of life. Or, we can choose to recharge and move forward.
Being tired is not a permanent identity. Being depleted or defeated is not a permanent condition.
We can recharge. We can renew. We can start again.
Life goes on. Onward and Upward.
