Surface Level

Sometimes I feel like I am meeting things in my life at surface level.

Meaning, I very rarely dig deep enough for it to impact my life...good or bad.  I find that the busier we are, the harder it is for me to completely give of myself to any one thing.  For instance, we've been crazy busy with sports this summer.  Big and Middle have started weight lifting, football camps, basketball camps, 7 on 7 football (whatever that means), and they own their own mowing business.  They too are meeting things at surface level...of this I am sure.  I am not lifting weights or attending hours of camps, but I am what I like to define as "crazy busy" myself.  Their actions reflect my leadership and it occurs to me that I'm not doing a very good job.

I am attending (occasionally) two workout classes, three times a week.  Don't be too impressed.  I made it one day this week.  I am trying to take over the cheer coach position for the high school and believe it or not, that has a LOT of jobs.  I am looking forward  to the changes in my classroom, but I'm working weekly on implementing changes that will hopefully benefit not only  my students, but my teaching experience as well.  All while attending 1957 baseball games in one summer.  (That is an extreme exaggeration-a.k.a.-hyperbole)

I know what you are thinking.  Poor me...the teacher who has the summer off to be free and enjoy life.  You are absolutely right.  I have time off from work and for that I am so grateful.  I'm not complaining.  What I'm saying is that even though I'm not working, I'm very busy with life.  The busier we are, the harder it is to truly give of yourself and go beyond surface level in anything you do.

Relationships can be that way as well.  When I am going from place to place and from person to person trying to make everyone happy, I tend to hit only the basic points of conversation.  How are you...how are things...are you enjoying Summer...etc.  Conversations are just that.  Surface level.  I don't have time to dig deep and I know I can keep up with people via social media.  I know what is happening because I look at Facebook and I scan Instagram, and I check twitter (even though I'm clueless about tweeting).  Surely I know what is happening from all the social media postings...right?

Wrong.

If you don't take the time to nurture relationships...and projects...and your body and health, they'll fail.  If you don't take care of the most important things and people in your life, they will become non-existent.  You would think...at my age, I would already know this.  I guess you could say, I've been reminded here lately of what is truly important.

Life is moving faster than I can keep up.  Instead of chasing my tail and being surface level-y with people and things in my life, I'm trying to make a list of what and who needs more than what meets the eye.

1.  God
2.  Coach (husband)
3.  Big, Middle, Little
4.  Family
5.  Friends
6.  Health
7.  Devotions
8.  School and Cheer

I need to dig deep and allow myself to only say yes to things I can commit to beyond the surface.  I want to give of myself completely to things and people who mean the most.  What will this look like?  I'm not sure.  I just know that it's time.

Grab a shovel.

Have a blessed day!  <3
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