3 Points to Ponder
- All of us have pictures in our heads of monumental moments to come in our lives. But, what about the day after? What have you done with the day after in your life?
- Recognizing the natural let-down after a major event is important in the growth process. Many mistakes have happened because people didn’t protect themselves against the dangers in the valley. How can you better equip yourself for when this time hits?
- Slow down and do not make any major decisions after a milestone life event. Your emotions are deceiving you at this point and giving yourself time for your heart, body, mind, and soul to become aligned is important. What are your go-to activities to center yourself?
2 Quotes to Share
“Almost everything will work if you unplug it for a few minutes… including you.” -Anne Lamott
“A valley that offers true solitude can provide an exhilarating experience for the soul. Just don’t go in there alone.” -unknown
1 Story of Impact
This week, I returned from a family trip to Haiti, as my family and I dedicated a Love-in-Action Center to my dad from the money he and others generously gave to his memorial. This trip has been 18 months in the making. Getting this center built has been at the forefront of my brain since it was agreed upon in January 2022. Planning the trip with my mom and siblings took shape months ago. Everything was built into a beautiful, honoring, and wonderful dedication with around 200 people attending. We installed the plaque, took pictures, and blessed many people. Then we returned home, and I now sit in the valley of it being over. My heart and soul haven’t quite caught up with my body, as part of me feels left there. My mom commented to me on the plane ride home, “It was a wonderful week, and I’m so happy we made it happen. Yet, it felt a lot like when I left the cemetery (when we buried Dad).” What do you do with the day after? We’ve all had mile-marker events in our story. A wedding. A big promotion. A house purchase. A long-awaited vacation. The birth of a child. The event happens and then… life. Maybe the event met expectations or maybe it didn’t, but in reality, the next day doesn’t care. It happens regardless. To be people of Impact, we all have days in the valley – days when the sun can’t quite get over the mountain top and hit your face. Don’t lose yourself in the valley. Remember who you are and what you were created for, even if you don’t feel it at the moment. Give yourself the grace to be okay with not being okay for a little bit. Rest and refresh. We need the valleys as much as the mountain tops, as when you do great things, the peaks and valleys are a greater distance apart. Recognize this and protect your soul accordingly. For I know if you walk through the valley, another impactful experience will come into view.
