anyone living within the current drought/excessive heat zone can tell you about brown grass, withered flowers, and sometimes futile attempts to save vegetable gardens or crops. it comes as no surprise that some people feel trapped inside their air conditioned homes, cautiously venturing out only when necessary. of course, there are those who endure the weather to play sports, attend picnics, and take walks. and a few people actually love this weather; i don't know any of them.
last evening when i stepped out of the house, i was hit with relatively cool air! from where did this come? and this morning, i sit in the patio room, window wide open enjoying the sounds of the birds and the flow of our outdoor water fountain. although it will be brief, enjoying the coolness is a top priority. we all deservc a break!
one of the most recognized and successful commercial jingles was aired to sell burgers and fries: 'you deserve a break today. so get up and get away... to mcdonald's!". cheerleaders, sports stars, and estatic floor moppers and counter cleaners declare and celebrate the right to take a break... just come to mcdonald's where you will find respite from whatever stress you are experiencing. what a deal!
how often have i heard and have i said, "you have worked so hard; you deserve a break!" or "life has been so tough, you have earned a relaxing vacation". you get the drift. we have the tendency to grant others and ourselves to stop and smell the roses. and that is a good thing!
but for some reason, i get hung up on the word 'deserve', which means that we have done something worthy of a reward. taking a break from our routine is not something we have earned. rather it's a vital need for a balanced life. doing the same thing in the same manner dulls our senses. but breaking a routine wakes us up. it heightens our awareness. it allows us to see our world from a different perspective.
most of us have arrived at a destination not remembering the journey. so lost in our thoughts, we have missed the opportunity to see what is around us. so what? after all, we arrived! but is that the most important thing in life... arriving?
also, taking a break can serve many purposes. i remember a break-up of a significant relationship for which too much extra time only increased the emotional pain. sitting around brooding was not helpful. only when i delved into a project at work did i find some relief. in that case, my break was adding something to my workload.
if we really, really want to know, we have the capacity to understand what constitutes a break for us. others can make suggestions, but only we know what will help. it falls upon us to distinguish between what others think should be a break and we know is best... if we take the time to seek the answer.
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