184 | Fresh Eyes

FRESH EYES || I let go of a limiting belief recently regarding a favorite place of mine. Pine Lake is a special place for our family. We’ve been going there for 50 years. It is a place where we enjoy peace and beauty, fun and recreation, relaxation and rest. ⁣

One of the things I really enjoy about Pine Lake is waking up early, knowing I have the whole day before me with nowhere to go and no tasks that have to be done. That sense of having a whole day creates an expansive possibility of rest for me that feels so luxurious and nurturing.⁣

Over time, I started to get rigid with the mindset that it’s only worth it to go to the lake if I can wake up there and have a full day and as a result we were going less and less often.⁣

A few weeks ago, we decided to go to Pine Lake for the weekend. Our plan was to go up Friday after school and come home Sunday. But when Friday after school arrived, Andrew and I were both tired. The idea of packing food, packing clothes, and making the drive felt a little daunting so we pivoted. We decided to drive up in the morning and stay for just one night. We read, watched TV, played games, built a fire–essentially enjoying the gift of downtime at a place we love.⁣

Here’s what we rediscovered in the process:⁣
–There’s a lot less to pack for a quick overnight trip.⁣
–It’s easier to keep the meal planning simple and unfussy when we’re there for a short time.⁣
–When we reduce the effort required for packing and cleanup, our time there is super relaxing and enjoyable.⁣
–Even a short getaway from the usual rhythm and routines can have a powerful impact on our well-being. ⁣
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Thanks to looking at the situation with fresh eyes, we remember that we have several options for enjoying the lake in meaningful and satisfying ways and are ready to do so more frequently.⁣
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🌱What do you need to look at with fresh eyes?⁣