RevGals Friday Five: Redo, Refresh, Restore
Songbird over at RevGals offers this Friday Five Meme as we prepare for Holy Week: Please share with us five ways you redo or refresh or restore your body, your space, your blog, anything in your life that needs perking up this week.
I wrote about this recently as I reflected on generating regeneration (see previous post). That reflection was primarily about recovering from a cold that seems to come back over and over while at the same time trying to commit to a workout schedule at a fitness club. I have never someone who goes to the gym, if I can't workout at home I don't workout. But this new place is too small and with three big dogs it's impossible to work out here, except for dog walks. So, off to the gym I go. It helps that my daughter goes too. Thus, working out regularly is one way I am trying to renew, restore, redo, and refresh this aging body. Exercise is good for the mind and spirit too.
Usually I take one or two silent retreats a year at a local retreat center. In Arizona I was fond of Desert House of Prayer. Here in the Chicago area I like St. Benedicts in Benet Lake, Wi. A three day silent retreat filled with meditation and prayer, yoga, walking, knitting and reading is ideal for restoring me when I have been filled with outputting energy - like leading and preaching in worship, leading meetings, guiding conversations, tending to pastoral care.
Knitting is an every day way I refresh my energy. Knitting is a form of active meditation or perhaps contemplation. I do a little knitting almost every day.
Blogging affords me some time to reflect - its often a form of spiritual writing as I process my life and faith, my doubts and my joys, all in the context of trying to discern what God is calling me to do. This is also a process of refreshment and restoration.
Massages are definitely a means of refreshment and restoration. I get a massage about once a month. They are also great for sore muscles from all the working out I'm doing.
Mostly I think that it is really important to take of ourselves. As women, as clergy, as people who spend a great deal of our time tending to others it is important to spend the time for self care.
I wrote about this recently as I reflected on generating regeneration (see previous post). That reflection was primarily about recovering from a cold that seems to come back over and over while at the same time trying to commit to a workout schedule at a fitness club. I have never someone who goes to the gym, if I can't workout at home I don't workout. But this new place is too small and with three big dogs it's impossible to work out here, except for dog walks. So, off to the gym I go. It helps that my daughter goes too. Thus, working out regularly is one way I am trying to renew, restore, redo, and refresh this aging body. Exercise is good for the mind and spirit too.
Usually I take one or two silent retreats a year at a local retreat center. In Arizona I was fond of Desert House of Prayer. Here in the Chicago area I like St. Benedicts in Benet Lake, Wi. A three day silent retreat filled with meditation and prayer, yoga, walking, knitting and reading is ideal for restoring me when I have been filled with outputting energy - like leading and preaching in worship, leading meetings, guiding conversations, tending to pastoral care.
Knitting is an every day way I refresh my energy. Knitting is a form of active meditation or perhaps contemplation. I do a little knitting almost every day.
Blogging affords me some time to reflect - its often a form of spiritual writing as I process my life and faith, my doubts and my joys, all in the context of trying to discern what God is calling me to do. This is also a process of refreshment and restoration.
Massages are definitely a means of refreshment and restoration. I get a massage about once a month. They are also great for sore muscles from all the working out I'm doing.
Mostly I think that it is really important to take of ourselves. As women, as clergy, as people who spend a great deal of our time tending to others it is important to spend the time for self care.
Comments
These days knitting isn't on that list for me because it's a reminder of what I *can't* do. I still knit, but it feels more like a challenge--sometimes simply a mental one--than a restoration. I miss that.
i miss yoga--i've been afraid to try it because of the pressure it puts on my wrists.
thank you for your wisdom and being a role-model for the Do side of life (rather than Do Not).
peace
I would have added to my own list of five connecting with others. As solo pastor and Jill of all other job descriptions (except organist) I feel isolated too much, and don't have enough local relationships to help renew. So thank you for your friendship through the blog world. It matters more than can be stated.
I haven't done a 3 day silent retreat but I do enjoy my once-a-month ritual at a retreat center near me.