Find Ways to Replenish Your Soul

Enjoy nature's beauty to prepare for the next storm

I tend to be an optimistic person.

Okay … perhaps I'm an optimist with a splash of realism. In other words, I'm just as likely as the next person to get swept under by a wave of negativity, despite my innate optimism. But, I tend to set my feet on the bottom to launch myself skyward as best I can.

Lately, it feels more like a tsunami than a wave, though. And I, like many others, can tire treading water … while those swells, some small and some large, splash at me with mocking ferocity. I get frustrated, disheartened, exhausted.

I want to scream with the remnants of my strength, “where is the joy? Why are people so drawn to the darkness? Where is the light that will finally overcome the shadows, allow us to purge it from our systems so we can climb back up to sanity?”

But, one can only scream for so long before a voice crackles and mutes. Only for so long before we need to replenish our force. We are, after all, only human.

I see so many people afraid to celebrate the joy around them, worried it might look like they don't appreciate the challenges we face. Afraid to celebrate their success, because people might stomp out their little light.

In my humble opinion, though, the chorus lasts much longer and grows stronger if we, as individuals, are allowed to pause for a moment to replenish our voices, our souls. If we take turns, tagging out and back in again. Rejoining the chorus at full strength and letting our neighbors replenish in turn.

This weekend, I took time to replenish. To fill my bucket.

I was a guest author in a classroom of beautiful young minds at a college. They asked questions. They took notes. They wanted to learn. I went away smiling, hopeful.

Drip

Saturday, I was a volunteer judge for our local high school Battle of the Books. What a wonderful gathering of young adults and adults. An intense, but friendly competition between young minds who share a joy for reading … for discovery. So many laughs, so much encouragement. I left smiling, hopeful.

Drip

Sunday, I watched a beautiful celebration of culture and joy. Dancing and singing. Did I understand all of the words? Absolutely not. But, I listened with my heart and watched with my soul. Grinning when I caught a word or phrase here and there, resolving to brush up on the language. I left smiling, dancing (which definitely makes other people smile. :)), hopeful.

Drip

Each drip, each splash of happiness and hope, helps to replenish. To strengthen us for future challenges. Even the tiniest drop helps to refill the bucket.

So I am committing to relishing the sunshine when it warms me; celebrating my victories large and small when they come; taking in the beauty around me when nature shows her hand. Pausing to reflect and replenish in the eye of the hurricane, so that I am prepared when the next wave, the other wall, tries to push me down again.

I am committing to replenishing my soul when those opportunities present themselves, so that I can rejoin the chorus, a stronger person.