If you feel a little lost, fragmented, not quite yourself…
If you feel dusty and tired, or frozen and locked up…
we understand.
Winter is over and it’s time for a little refresh.
Like coming home from a long vacation and changing the sheets or hanging new curtains, it’s a sweet joy to be grateful for who God made you to be and freshen it up all at once. We can throw away the notion that we need to be different or better or someone else altogether, while still putting the pieces back together and bringing a little color back to your life. This week we’ll talk about all the ways women can find refreshment – from our hearts to our wardrobes to our creative lives. We’d love to have you join us and join the conversation about what how you best refresh.
Two ladies. One week. An experimental how-to in refreshment.
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It’s been a long time coming. Last year at this time I was very newly pregnant after a very unexpected miscarriage. We were in the very infancy of Influence, not knowing even a quarter of what God would show us in the coming year. Since then, my oldest started kindergarten, we had the conference, I went into preterm labor, enjoyed several weeks of bedrest (with 3 lively boys!), started the Influence Network, and then two weeks later I had sweet Eli.
I say none of that to toot my own horn. Truly, truly, truly. I say it to let you know…I’m tired. I’m plain worn out. I feel like I have no more words to say and certainly no new ideas. I feel dried up and wrung out.
I’d venture to say that Jessi and I struggle in different ways. Where she’s a fount of beautiful words in this season, I’m maybe a shallow and muddy puddle…but I’m just glad I’m not scorched earth. I fear I’ll never have an original thought again, ever. I find myself wanting to be productive and an effective communicator–and it’s not coming naturally to me right now.
So, while we will have lots of great ideas about makeup, clothes, hair, and the like…right now? I’m more worried about the state of my mind and my heart.
It’s been a very out there and creative year for me. Far more than ANY other year in my life. I feel like I need that to be said. This year has been an anomaly. But really, it’s clear that I don’t have the processes or the rhythm to sustain what the Lord has put into motion. It can’t be done in my own strength…and I’ve tried. Trust me, I’ve tried. I’m here to tell you, trying to do anything in my own strength has left me plum tired.
But, I’ve realized, I need to be more concerned with abiding than with creating. It’s true, you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip. And, it’s also true that a tired and wrung out mom of four will not create anything worthwhile on her own. She’ll also not get any laundry done–and her boys will wear mismatched socks and the jeans that are too short and the shirts with holes in them…bottom of the barrel stuff.
And, I don’t want anyone to get the bottom of the barrel stuff. I’ve also noticed that when I’m scratching at the bottom of the barrel, it feels like I’m awfully small and a long way from the light. I tend to live small and scared and wound so very tight. That’s just not going to work.
So…in my effort to refresh.
1. I will abide. I will rest and exercise quiet. I will save my public words for when they are important…conversely, I’ll write more for private creativity. I’ll explore Scripture and literature more than Netflix and Hulu. :)
2. I will pinpoint what is stealing my peace each day. I will do my best to not allow it to continue to steal my peace. It may be laundry or it may be unresolved conflict. But, I ruminate and obsess when I don’t have peace. Neither rumination nor obsession are generally great for whole or healthy living.
3. I will regularly talk with women who are a step or two ahead of me in life. I will look to them for encouragement, correction, and input.
4. I will live a little messy. I will make an effort not to be so safe or careful or afraid. I want to live bravely so other’s feel free to do so, as well.
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The rest of this week, we’ll bring you tips about how to hit the refresh button on your wardrobe, makeup routine, quicker than quick hairstyles. We’ll keep pointing to our hearts while also keeping it really practical and hope-filled.
Head over to see what Jessi is thinking about her habit of Real Housewives of Wherever. We’d love to hear in the comments what you are doing this spring to hit the refresh button.