It’s been one of those weeks. You know, when you wake up at the end of those long days as if you’d just been on a rollercoaster ride and you wonder, what have I actually done this week?
Despite all my careful planning and my (normally) good organisational skills, I was buried knee deep in school work this week. So many papers to grade at the end of term, so many last minute events to organize, so many talks and meetings… and so little time to do all that.
In the last two weeks, I have spent more time at school than at home.
I haven’t really talked to anyone outside of school.
I don’t even want to talk about my eating habits. My kitchen is a big mess with leftover junk food, but I have no time nor energy to clean it up.
Maybe you’re familiar with such weeks and thoughts.
Time to pause is rare and self-care is not really at the top of our list these days.
How could we sit dow and rest when there’s a stack of work waiting for us?
Why should we put any effort in cooking something nice when we’re the only ones eating it and a sandwich would do just fine?
Because we deserve it.
In weeks like this I realize how much we have to fight for what’s important.
Inner strength and joy won’t just come, we have to be intentional and seek them out in our busy lives. When we value ourselves with what we do, eat and think, we can keep going and also appreciate the people around us.
When we carve out some time to just rest our thoughts and focus on the beauty in the mundane, we can see the abundance that’s already there.
So today, I decided to let work be work and exchange my desk for a sofa in a coffeeshop. With a giant cup of melange in my hand, I watch people, imagine the stories they have to tell and allow God to breathe life back into me.
Writing for Five Minute Friday today.
thisiskatha.com 
Just reading back through some of your posts dear Katha
My eye caught on the word Melange that you spoke of at your cafe. I am intrigued by this word. It means “mix/mixture/assortment” in French so it peaked my interest as a beverage 😉 what is it?
Interesting! It is a drink, yes. Coffee mixed with milk. Apparently, it became famous in Austria, we often call it “Viennese Melange”. You should try it!
Self care is so important!
It is! And yet, we are the first ones to take ourselves back because we don’t consider ourselves important enough…
I love what you said about fighting for what’s important! Very insightful!
Traci – http://www.tracimichele.com
Thank you, Traci!
Yes! Thank you for this reminder. I so often think that I can take better care of myself when the work is done, but when the work is cyclical in nature, I need to build periods of rest and refreshment in there, or I will be able to do my best work. Thank you so much for this very much needed reminder. Your five minute Friday neighbor.
This is so good! To even plan periods of rest! I started doing that a couple of years ago and these Sabbaths are my lifeline. But nevertheless, I need additional reminders at time.