Recently I had the pleasure, and pain, of driving across 4 states to visit family and clear out some of my storage area. It had been too long since a visit and I was looking forward to seeing family again. Anyone who likes to take a road trip knows the excitement of starting out on a new journey. I already knew the path so I could not wait to drive once again through the scenery and see parts of Arizona I had missed so much.
One thing I did not count on is I got very sick! I could not imagine what was wrong with me. Later, as I completed my visit and began my travel back home I realized it must have been motion sickness and exhaustion. I learned to stop every two hours to get out, walk around, rest my eyes, and let my insides adjust. It was an easier trip home but a hard lesson to learn while driving there. What should have been a 3 day trip had to be a 6 day trip for me. I believe 4-5 hours of driving is really my limit.
This morning I thought about our life’s journey and all of the twists and turns we take as life changes and we change life. I thought about good times and bad times and came to a conclusion. As I laid down with the lumbar part of my back resting on a nice warm heating pad, I realized there must always be a time of rest. Contrary to some beliefs, resting is not being “lazy”. Resting means our bodies can’t take much more of the journey without rest or sickness comes. Just like with my travels, the key is taking that rest before we become sick. In fact, a meditative rest every day will bring great benefits. Our bodies need time to recharge, disengage, and rebalance.
Yes, life can bring motion sickness. If it’s always in motion things start to tilt and our world comes crashing down around us. If we don’t take that time, our bodies will force it with loud complaints. I got the message, “Use the heating pad to relax before the back strain comes!”
Today, and the rest of this week, remind yourself to rest. It is important for your health, well being, and balance in life. Eat things that are good for you, sleep a good 8 hours a night, take a cat nap, warm your lumbar area, let your mind balance, and enjoy the scenery without life having to always be in motion!
Loving you from here,
Dr Rev Jenine Marie Howry
Life Lessons by Jenine Marie 