Ready for Summer

I’m not feeling well.  I'm tired, weary and have a slight headache. For the last several days, I have felt like coming home and taking a nap.  I can’t even muster up the energy to read a new romance novel. I've resorted to rereading old ones so as not to strain my brain. I've not had the desire to write which you know means I have got something bad.  Every time I attempt to sit at the computer, I get restless and my thoughts are all jumbled and confused. I am distracted by the slightest thing.  It was even my turn to share a devotion at work and I weaseled my way out of it because I am suffering from something so terrible that all my inspiration has drained away.

At first I thought I merely had Spiritual ADD.  You know that debilitating disorder where you are suffering from a deficit of the Holy Spirit because your attention has been distracted by any and all things of the world.  But after careful consideration of all my symptoms, I have determined that I have something worse.  I have caught a dreaded case of Spring Fever aggravated by my Spiritual ADD. Spring Fever is defined in the dictionary as, “a listless, lazy, or restless feeling commonly associated with beginning of Spring.”  I like the Urban Dictionary definition better, “wanting the present to become summer and wanting to be outside verses inside.” I’m not sure how I caught it, but I am going to blame my preschoolers who are exhibiting some of these symptoms when “carpet time” goes too long. They start to wiggle and squirm and look longingly at the playground. I totally feel their pain….

I have been mentally beating myself up about my condition until I did some research today and found that there is science and medical data to backup my Spring Fever. I love when science confirms my craziness. I came across a great article by Andrea Harvey called Combat Spring Fever! (http://dailyblogma.com/business/combat-spring-fever/ ). She lists several suggestions that I intend to put into practice:

1. Just Give In!

 Oh, yeah! Now we're talking. I am going to stop feeling so guilty.  “Why do I feel guilty?” you ask.  Because I have been putting pressure on myself to write, to feel inspired, to try and hear from God before I attempt to write anything. Instead of just spilling my guts on paper and seeing where it leads.  I think some of the most beautiful psalms from King David are those in which he wrote the outpourings of his heart to God.  Ms. Harvey says that if you take breaks you come back “relaxed, re-energized and ready to go.”  So this summer, I am going to relax in God’s love for me. My pastor recently preached a sermon on Romans 7-8 in which I was reminded that God loves me just as I am.  I can’t do anything to try and get extra credit points or earn more love.  I know this intellectually but sometimes my heart forgets.   If I write one post or 10 posts, God loves me the same. God said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love ; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

2. Go Outdoors!

One of the reasons I feel tired and fatigued is because I'm totally out of shape. I'm starting to feel all of my 43 years. I feel little cricks in my back and I have this weird hip thing going on.  This is completely unacceptable.  Most of us dream of doing great things for God. We want our lives to be useful but because we have not taken care of our bodies, we don’t have the energy to accomplish the tasks God has for us.

Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

That high price was Jesus dying on the cross for me.  The least I could do is take care of my body so that it can be ready to be used by God.  This summer, I intend to go outdoors and be active in God's beautiful creation provided for us. Who needs a gym!

3.  Break up your work day into sections

I love this advice from Ms. Harvey because she says, “Feeling blocked and/or restless? Don’t fight it. Sitting there for hours trying to get things accomplished when you can’t concentrate is going to make the problem worse.”  This totally made sense to me. She recommends taking breaks to clear your head.  I remember when I was in high school doing homework. I would be diligently working, listening to music, and all of a sudden one of my favorite songs would come on and I would literally hop up and start dancing.  Not just a little foot tapping or swaying but full on Dancing With The Stars dancing. Then I would flop back on the couch all sweaty ready to concentrate again.  Try it some time, it works…I graduated second in my class with straight A’s.

4. Spring Cleaning

There is something about removing clutter in your life that is so rejuvenating.  You can literally breath easier.  This summer I am going to concentrate on removing clutter from my office and closet. One of the only reasons my husband keeps me around is because I handle all of the paperwork in our family.  I think he’s afraid to get rid of me because training my replacement would be too much work.  So I am going to work on filing and clearing off my desk.  Only I won’t do it so well that I work myself out of a job.

Also, I am going to declutter my kitchen of processed food. I can’t cook. Not at all.  My idea of cooking dinner involves a box or a frozen item.  My friends can’t believe this, like its some sin against my Mexican culture and cooking should be genetically programmed or something. My husband claims that everything I cook gives him the runs. To quote the great Nacho Libre, “He has had diarrhea” since the wedding.  But no more! I will no longer be loved merely for my office skills.  I am going to conquer my phobia of the kitchen and learn to cook.  Hubby, be afraid, very afraid.  I will keep you posted during the summer of my successes or my hubby’s unfortunate bouts of botulism.  Can you believe I actually found a scripture verse that supports the fact that my husband has to love me even if I fail at cooking:
Proverbs 15:17 Better a meal of herbs with love than a fatted calf with hatred.” 

According to my research, there are two positives to Spring Fever, daydreaming and romance.  I intend to make the most of both. I found a great quote by Bern Williams, “If June could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance.”  I am going to need to play up the romance department in order to make up for the learning curve in my cooking.  Second I am going to embrace my love of daydreaming. According to WebMD, there are some positive benefits to daydreaming such as it helps boost creativity and to achieve goals, helps the body relax, it can help manage conflict and to boost productivity.  Because our mind can get us into trouble, I just have to keep to the Biblical guideline for daydreams which is Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.”   

So this summer, whether you have to work everyday or you get to be a bum like my husband calls me (I prefer the title “Trophy Wife”), give in to your Spring Fever.  Take time to relax and re-energize.  Declutter your life.  Take time to enjoy your family, to daydream, and finally bring back romance into your relationship.  Romance does not have to be fancy dinners or nights on the town. My most romantic nights include a home cooked meal (prepared by my husband), a good movie and my daughter in bed by 8:00 p.m.  The wisest man in the Bible, King Solomon wrote about Spring romance:
“Winter is past, the rain has stopped; flowers cover the earth, it’s time to sing. The cooing of doves is heard in our land. Fig trees are bearing fruit, while blossoms on grapevines fill the air with perfume. My darling I love you! Let’s go away together.” Song of Solomon 2:11-13  
OK, you don't have to break out in song like some sappy teen musical but you get my drift.

Finally, if you are feeling restless, weary and just spiritually ADD, remember to invite Jesus over this summer. He really just wants to hang out with us and rejuvenate us with His love.   Isaiah 58:11(NLT)  says it best, “The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden like an ever-flowing spring.”
  
Be safe this summer.
Love and Blessings,
Yolanda