“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted; no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.”, Maya Angelou, Won’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now
Have you ever taken time to turn everything off in your head? Just a moment to breathe and not think about the challenges that are weighing you down. It can be hard to do. I know for me sometimes I feel like I can’t stop because if I do everything will fall apart. As Dr. Maya Angelou stated in the quote above, “Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence.” She is not saying that we don’t matter or what we are doing is unimportant. Dr. Angelou is saying that taking time to step away for a day to heal our minds will help us to face the challenges that will be there tomorrow with a clearer mind and a newfound energy.
We hear the phrase “work life balance” on television, at work, or maybe a seminar and usually strategies are shared with us on how to obtain that balance. I often wonder what that means and how do you know when you have found that balance. As much as the experts can teach us, it all comes down to one person who can achieve that balance. It is the person you see when you look in the mirror. I am guilty of not holding myself accountable. There were days I was running on that hamster wheel of life, and I thought if I stopped running and the wheel stopped spinning everything would fall apart. The problem is we can’t run forever. Either we stop on our own and catch our breath, or our body will do it for us. I have been there in my life where I ignored the signs. These signs impacted my health, my performance at work, and my relationship with my family. The funny thing about running on that hamster wheel is that you put in the miles, but you are still in the same place.
I had to learn to give myself grace and forgiveness. I ran hard because I feared failure. I feared that the success I was having would be taken away. I didn’t feel I deserved the opportunities I was given and at times I felt I was way in over my head. It took chest pain and a trip to the cardiac cath lab to start to change my course. I also turned back to my faith because I knew I needed to connect to something higher.
I am not telling you that if you want to find balance, then go to church. We all have our own journeys of discovery to take. I do know that in the words of Maya Angelou, “Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted; no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.” The important part of this quote is the word “we”. Just like we make a commitment to meet that project date for work or pay the rent or care for the people we love, we have to make time to just breathe and find our balance.
Whether it is 5 minutes a day or 1 day a month, put it on your calendar and set those worries outside your door. Don’t worry, they will be there when you return.
My wish is that in this ever-changing world you will be able to find your moment of peace.
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 