Me at Ultimate Change
There’s a feeling I lost. One I forgot how to feel for a while. The busyness of life and the feeling of overwhelm can sometimes… well… overwhelm other feelings. Back in late February, before my birthday, I started exercising at The Ultimate Change. One of the many benefits of regular exercise is one I didn’t expect: The Feeling Of Accomplishment! Every morning the class starts, and yeah, somewhere about halfway through I’m thinking I can’t do anymore or sweat any more or whatever. Encouragement is yelled out from the front of the class “Push a little more! You can do it!” and I somehow get through. Before I know it, the cool down starts and a giddy feeling sneaks up on me. I did it! It’s over! I feel great, want to laugh out loud, and can’t help the smile I get. I’m actually a little bit hooked now.
Some people call this runner’s high. I don’t even know because I would not call myself a runner by any stretch. (See what I did there?) I think it’s a little more than that because I’ve noticed I can cultivate that feeling at other times. At the end of a work day. At the end of a project I dread. At the end of the week. More than runner’s high, I like to call it Friday Feeling. What I’m discovering is that Friday Feeling pops up all over the place. Most of the time I’ve just ignored it.
But lately, I’ve decided to maximize Friday Feeling. By maximize, I mean stop. Just stop and let myself feel the giddy feeling of “I did it! It’s over! Yay!!!” I guess most of the last few years I’ve let good accomplishments slip by with little more than “What next?” By neglecting to celebrate, I cheat myself out of so much of life’s joy.
I’m doing amazing things. So are you! We’re raising kids, putting ideas into practice, finishing books, cleaning bathrooms, scoring great deals on toilet paper, finding the guts to try something new. Little accomplishments happen every day and they’re miracles. So outside the 26 inches I’ve lost (FRIDAY FEELING!!) I’ve gained a way of recognizing and celebrating the gift of life. Somebody Else did this, too.
“And God saw everything He had made, and behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
“..fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
So God did this. God celebrated the good things. He celebrates the good things.
I’ve spent a lot of years letting perfectionism take for granted the wonderful-ness in life. Living like Friday never comes. Ignoring the cool reasons to celebrate because I forgot how to appreciate things, or I’m moving too fast to have time to bask in the goodness. I’m thinking, however, if God places this on priority… perhaps I should, too.
It’s Friday, y’all! Time to take a deep breath, a sigh of relief, a little cheer of “I did it!” What’s giving you Friday Feeling today?
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