I can remember a time when I was pretty young, I was less than 10 years old, anyway. We lived a block from the elementary school I went to, and it was summer. I was walking with my friend, Debbie, probably going to my friend Bonnie's house, who lived on the other side of the school. As we walked through the school playground, a car driving by stopped and yelled something out the window. Debbie ran. I stopped in fear or shock - I'm not sure which. I was frozen. My feet wouldn't move. I didn't know what to do.
The car kept going and nothing of consequence happened, but I feel that's often what we do when we are afraid - a perfect example of flight or fight?? Debbie chose flight. I couldn't move! I have to admit that I am not much of a risk taker, although I do like adventure. I need to have things pretty planned out and do my research before I make a decision to move forward. One thing that has stopped me from taking chances is feeling comfortable.
I feel that happens with our health and body, too, even when we may not like it. We don't want to do the hard things to feel better about how our bodies look and feel. Even though we are uncomfortable with them, we don't want to experience the discomfort of making necessary changes. We freeze. We continue on our path of not liking how we look, not being able to be as active as we would like, and not being able to wear that cute outfit that's hanging in our closet that no longer fits.
Several years ago I was searching for what was going to be my next steps in life with kids graduating and out of the house - a time to focus more on myself and my next purpose. This poem was in my notes, and I just found it again the other day. When you are ready to be brave, to move instead of freeze, to get back into that cute outfit, to feel comfortable in your skin rather than comfortable in your discomfort, contact Dani at InCourage Health. You will have to put in the hard work, but you don't have to go it alone.
Disturb us, Lord
Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves, When our dreams have come true Because we have dreamed too little, When we arrived safely Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when With the abundance of things we possess We have lost our thirst For the waters of life; Having fallen in love with life, We have ceased to dream of eternity And in our efforts to build a new earth, We have allowed our vision Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, To venture on wider seas Where storms will show your mastery; Where losing sight of land, We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back The horizons of our hopes; And to push into the future In strength, courage, hope, and love.
Attributed — Sir Francis Drake — 1577
(English sea captain and explorer)
For more information, go to our website: www.incourage-health.com
To contact Dani at InCourage Health LLC, email: incourage@incourage-health.com
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