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Posts Tagged ‘rest’

Haraka, Haraka Haina Baraka

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

“Pole, Pole” (pronounced Pole-ay, Pole-ay)

Last week we heard this phrase a lot. Making our way up the Rongai route from the Kenyan border to the top of mount Kilimanjaro. Every time we were passed by a porter or a guide he would say in Swahili “Pole, pole”; go slowly, slowly. For a peak that tops out above 19,000 feet the guides knew that the air was thin and that our bodies were not used to the climate at that altitude. In fact, a majority of our group were from sea level, and even the altitude at the start of our trek (above 6,000 feet) could be a challenge.

It was not lost on us, that their admonishment to go slowly had broader implications than just our physical journey toward the summit. In fact, some of us when we would get a break in the action would pull out our cell phones and begin looking for a signal. Knowing that we were “off the grid” created its own level of angst. With long periods of hiking, alone with your thoughts even though you were part of a larger group, you had plenty of time to think about what was happening back in the real world. Our guides knew this, and so I think their encouragement to us was as much spiritual as it was physical. “Take it slowly. It’s ok. There is a blessing that comes from just experiencing the mountain and knowing that God has something special for you in this place. Don’t waste this unique opportunity.”

If fact, there is a Swahili phrase for the opposite of taking life at a practical pace: “Haraka, Haraka Haina Baraka”, which is Swahili for “Hurry, Hurry has no blessing”

http://www.bloodsweatandcompassion.org

Tags: blessing, hurried, pace, rest, Spiritual
Posted in Spiritual | No Comments »

of Fireplaces and Aquariums

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

by Jim Finwick | No Comments »

When I was a Senior in high school, on of my favorite instructors named Bruce Badrigian, hosted an end of the year beach party. The night was filled with the typical things you would expect of such a party; good food, good friends and plenty of 80′s music (it was 1983 after all). One thing, however, still stands out in my mind from that night which I believe I will never forget. There was the customary beach bond fire, but Mr. Badrigian asked each of us at some point in the night to step back away from the warmth of the fire and to look at the fire and the group from a distance. “There is something special about a fire” he said.

Many years later, I understand even more what he meant. There is something relaxing and comforting about the sight of a fire. Perhaps it is that it is wild and yet contained. Perhaps that it is constantly changing and never, ever the same twice.

I spent the day setting up an aquarium in my home office. Since I was in high school I have loved to create these microcosms in my home, and sit and watch the fish interact. In fact, you can sit and watch that interaction for hours. I believe that there are many things like this around us. A fireplace, an aquarium, a sunset. Things that are unpredictable, ever changing and comforting. Seek out this small bit of Sabbath every day.

Going Further:
(click image to look up)

Tags: Mental, relaxation, rest, sabbath
Posted in Mental | No Comments »

Play

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

by David Dahlin | No Comments »

Do you play? I mean really play. Not doing something useful like “spending time with the kids” or “exercising” or “learning a new skill.” I mean play. Just having fun. Losing track of time in something that you do just for the sheer fun of it. Most of us have nearly lost this ability in our scramble to keep pace with our obligations.

I’m reading a great book on Sabbath by Mark Buchanan (The Rest of God). He provides a liberating view of what has often been interpreted as a “no fun” rule and turns it on its head. The idea is that we work and work and work at least 6 days a week. So one day a week we should just have fun! That is rest for us. Doing things that bring no added value.

We need to get back to playing. Playing makes us more alive. It makes us glad we are alive. It makes the rest of the striving that we do worth something. I think playing makes us more spiritual. It wakes up our spirit and strengthens our spirit.

So, when is the last time you played for a day? Not an hour. Not two. A whole day? What if you had a whole day every week to play? Would that change your life? It’s changing mine. A 1010 life is not about working to our fullest but living to our fullest. So live a little. Play a little.

No, play a lot!

Tags: fun, play, rest, sabbath, Spiritual
Posted in Spiritual | No Comments »

Time to Decompress

Sunday, April 19th, 2009

by Jim Finwick | No Comments »

A friend of mine went on vacation a couple of weeks ago and commented that he was almost instantly able to relax and enjoy his time away. I must admit a tinge of jealousy at the news. It often takes me much longer to get lost in the enjoyment of my entertainment. And even then, it is sometimes accompanied by a feeling of guilt for not doing something more “productive”. It started me wondering about the importance of how much time it takes to someone to become fully unstressed. The idea reminded me of deep sea divers and the complex process of decompression when they have been on a deep dive for an extended period of time.

According the Merck Medical Online Library, The risk of developing decompression sickness increases with increasing pressure and with the length of time spent in a pressurized environment.

Read the entire ARTICLE

What are you actively doing to prevent the onset of decompression sickness in your busy life?

Sadly, some people don’t ever disconnect from their stress. At 1010 Living we understand how to use stress to increase our mental, emotional, physical, relational and spiritual capacity. But remaining in a high stress environment without relief for an extended period of time can lead to some very undesirable results. If you are not intentional about actively using recovery and stress in combination with one another, then you are destined to become a victim of your own circumstances. Examples of victims are all around us in the form of people who, on vacation, stay in touch with colleagues via their Blackberry and are frequently taking “urgent” calls; parents who sometimes become so engrossed in their children’s lives that they forget to take time out and recover; and sick family members that can often take round the clock care and leave no margin for rest or rejuvenation.

Be careful how deeply emerged you become engrossed in your stressful situations. Be conscious of how long you are in stress without disengaging. Taking frequent breaks from the stress (even if it is just a quick walk around the block to clear your head) can help keep you from succumbing to the increasing pressure and can reduce the length of time you spend in a pressurized environment. As a simple gauge, you should determine how long it takes you to feel a sense of relaxation when you engage in your favorite activities.

What helps you to decompress? What are your 10 minute decompressions? What are your 10 hour decompressions? How about your 10 day ones? Being Fully Alive involves understanding yourself well enough to know what fills your tank and how to use those things as part of an integrated lifestyle. And, more importantly, have you been missing out on those key activities in your day/week/month? Whatever you do, don’t neglect that important part of counter balancing your stress.

Have you been “down” for an extended period of time? Are you to deep? Have you been under pressure without taking the time to rest or recover?

Savor your decompression time. Know that it can make you more effective when you are in the crucible of pressure…failing to strategically decompress can kill you.