Going off the grid

Happy Sacred Sunday!

When my middle son, Justin, decided to go back to his old school for his sophomore year, one of the first things that came to my mind was: maybe I could go to Warrior Week.

Warrior Week is a week-long retreat held the week before the first day of school for the high schoolers at the school my kids attend. Parents are allowed to apply to volunteer.

I’ve heard many parents talk about what an incredible experience it is to attend this retreat. “It’s a lot of work, but it is very fulfilling,” my friend told me.

I had never applied to go, but this year is Orly’s senior year and Justin’s first time, and it is the only time they will go together. It felt like the best year for me to experience it. And so I submitted my application. But I only got word that I was in a couple of weeks ago.

These weeks have been hectic. So many moving parts and logistics to handle. To name a few, I have a full roster of coaching clients, a group coaching program, three kids to help transition back to school, and some home repairs that have required my immediate attention.

My word for August is simplify, and I chuckle at how complicated it can feel to simplify life!

I even caught myself asking a friend of mine if I would have down time during Warrior Week to get some work done. And then I realized something. I was trying to continue squeezing as much work as I could into every pocket of free time I had, because the energy I’ve been in is go, go, go. 

That initial desire of going to Warrior Week was replaced with all the “maybe it would be better if I stay so I can not drop any balls” thoughts.

I got caught in a loop of whizzing by life instead of living it.

That’s drifting.

When you spend so much time focused on being productive, you stop giving yourself time to be present.

As soon as I noticed the trap I had fallen into, I decided to shift the energy. That’s the power of Notice. Name. Nurture. It doesn’t mean you don’t drift. But there is always an anchor to bring you back to what matters most.

So this is my intention this week:

I’m choosing Warrior Week as time to be where my feet are planted. I am going there to serve, in whatever capacity is needed of me. I want to truly experience this place, not manage it within my busy schedule.

So I’m going off the grid. I will disconnect as best I can from social media, technology, and to do’s, trusting that it all can wait until I get back.

Unfortunately, this trip conflicts with my youngest son’s first day of 8th grade and I will miss his first day back to school and our School Year’s Eve tradition. Every year, the night before school starts, we do a five finger reflection together as a family. Missing it this year was a really hard trade off. But it also serves as a reminder that life can be messy and beautiful at the same time. That nothing is perfect, but you can make everything meaningful and purposeful.

I have a deep feeling that this trip is going to be very meaningful for me, and I’m showing up fully for it. I will see you right here in your inbox next week, sharing whatever nuggets of wisdom I gained along the way. 

Sending you so much love today and always,