RUSHING

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Definition:  To move quickly with urgent haste. Dash toward someone or something in an attempt to attack or capture.  The act to advance a football by running plays to gain yardage or to RUSH a passer or kicker.  A term used in adherence to fraternities when it comes to recruiting new members.

 

 

Sitting in my favorite chair sipping on my cup of hot Zen tea I realized this week we celebrated the first day of fall.  Autumn always reminds of my favorite sport…Football!  I love football, nothing better than a great Friday night High School game, band marching, cheerleaders cheering and the fans going wild.  Saturday’s are filled with College rivalry’s playing against one another and yes I love my Sunday afternoon listening to my hubby yell at the TV like the cowboys can really hear him from the living room, at least I know our neighbors can.  There is nothing like watching the quarterback make and incredible play and the running back RUSHES for those extra yards and cross the goal line…Score…that is the name of the game.  Emmitt Smith is my all-time favorite running back.  Not only does he have an impeccable smile, quick RUSHING moves he is a pretty good dancer too, I have to admit the only season I really ever watched “Dancing with the Stars” and he and his partner won!  For those of you who are not big football fans Emmitt played for University of Florida Gators and then was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and wore number 22 on his jersey. His career ended with Arizona Cardinals but he still holds the record for the most yards RUSHING.  He has 4,409 carries and 18,355 yards gained.  His career ended in 2004 and no one has beaten his record in the last ten years.  AMAZING!  Walter Payton who played for the Chicago Bears is second with 16,727 yards gained and 3,838 carries.  His career ended in 1987.  That is a lot of RUSHING and running down the football field wouldn’t you say?

 

Another form of RUSHING came to mind while visiting with a good friend of mine who just had her 25th college reunion.  She RUSHED her freshman year of college in order to be able to join her favorite sorority.  It is fun listening to her stories.  Many of my friend’s daughters are going through the same experience, however I know for many it is a very nerve wracking and stressful time.  To me it sounds more difficult than taking physics, instead of dealing with the law of motion or gravity; they have to put themselves out there to impress other girls.  And we all know girls can be just plain mean and so judgmental.  Once accepted though a bond is built and they have a sense of connection.  They are truly your friends and sisters for life.

 

During my quiet time this week I read a verse in Proverbs 19:2 “It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty (RUSHING) and miss the way “… Hmmm, I just realized something about my life lately I am not very happy about.  I owe my dear friends and family a huge apology.  Yes, you might say it is confession time…I AM GUILTY OF RUSHING… not the good kind and not just hurrying but really RUSHING to the point of almost being rude.  There I said it out loud, I have typed in BIG BOLD Letters.   RUSHING RUSHING RUSHING…This year especially I find myself racing against time, why is this?  I am in the second halftime of life maybe late in the 3rd quarter and this treadmill of life is going faster and faster.   How did it happen? My kids are grown there is no excuse.  It’s complicated but I have made the first step to recovery I admit it, I am aware of it and I consciously will strive to improve, slow down, breathe in deeply and embrace while enjoying the moment. It’s crazy though when we operate our daily lives with the alarm clock, time clock and then looking at our biological clock it can get a bit overwhelming.  No wonder we RUSH!  Especially for people like me who are wired to gitrdone and enjoy being busy not idle, I worry I will let someone down or miss an important deadline or commitment.  I know the key is to plan your work, work your plan and delegate more.  The word delegate is something I don’t do well.   Life truly has a pace of its own but I need to sip it more slowly like fine wine not gulping it like cheap beer.  What about you how is your daily life, do you feel a bit overwhelmed and RUSHING throughout the day too?  I know I have to be very cautious and especially this time of year, being addicted to working, giving or taking care of others, RUSHING around and being busy the only way to give ourselves permission to rest is sometimes by collapsing and that is never a good thing.  RUSHING and then collapsing is not only exhausting to me, it wears everyone around me out too.

 

RUSHING around and not truly focusing on the now causes more stress and distractions.  Especially as wife and mother trying to be June Cleaver and Superwoman, there are many times in the morning while getting ready for work, I start the shower and see the tile needs cleaned so I grab the cleaner and start cleaning, finish that and almost forget to shampoo or rinse my hair.  I go to the kitchen to get another cup of scrumptious tea and the dog is standing at the door needing to be let out, walk by the laundry room and notice there were clothes needing folded or put up and then you walk by the couch and the blanket and pillows need straightening.  I go back to finish getting ready and realize I never filled my tea cup up! My day goes on and on like this. I then RUSH to the office because I am behind…Can any of you relate?  Is it any wonder we feel ourselves being incompetent at times.  We get a lot of little things done but never a sense of real accomplishment because the big things are still left to do.  I am a list maker and love to cross off the tasks completed it gives me a sense of reward but instead of focusing on all the things I have done, I stare at the ones not done and begin to RUSH to see if I can do it before the end of the day.  WHY…Why can’t these wait until tomorrow?

 

I have started making a master list for the week and then listing 3 or 4 sometimes 8 or 10 (I know stick with 3 or 4) items to do each day and then by the end of the week the master list should be whittled down or complete.  On that list I have put in BIG BOLD letters right in the middle “Don’t RUSH-Breathe Deeply” as a reminder.  I am a visual person so this reminds me of being a better me.  Slowing down a bit, enjoying the moment, living in the Now!  I think of a RUSHING river where there are times we have to ride the rapids but further down the stream it is slow and steady, we will get to the final destination but why not enjoy the ride while traveling rather than RUSHING all the way.  I had one boss tell me when I first went into sales; it is a marathon not a sprint.  We need to learn to pace ourselves, baby steps, then walking, eventually running but never RUSHING!

 

My daughter reminded me of a song she said could be my theme song this year… the famous country band “ALABAMA” sings

I’m in a hurry to get things done

Oh I RUSH and RUSH until life’s no fun

All I really gotta do is live and die

But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.

 

Don’t know why

I have to drive so fast

My car has nothing to prove

It’s not new

But it’ll do 0 to 60 in 5.2.

 

Oh I’m in a hurry to get things done

Oh I RUSH and RUSH until life’s no fun

All I really gotta do is live and die

But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.

 

Can’t be late

I leave plenty of time

Shaking hands with the clock

I can’t stop

I’m on a roll and I’m ready to rock.

 

Oh I’m in a hurry to get things done

Oh I RUSH and RUSH until life’s no fun

All I really gotta do is live and die

But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.

 

I hear a voice

That say’s I’m running behind

I better pick up my pace

It’s a race

And there ain’t no room

For someone in second place.

 

I’m in a hurry to get things done

Oh I RUSH and RUSH until life’s no fun

All I really gotta do is live and die

But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.

 

 

Even more the reason when life gets way too busy we need to plan more for “Takin Time Out”!  We need time to get centered, focused, relax and meditate.  Slowing down our moves reading the entire book or magazine, watching a movie all the way through, carrying on a conversation with a friend or loved one and really embracing the time you shared.  These are what are truly important.  Who says you can’t take off on a Wednesday afternoon and have a massage or go to the park with the kids?  We are so wired up and connected with technology we don’t give ourselves permission to relax and unwind.  This is so important to have the quality of life God designed us to truly live.  What changes do you need to make?  I vow to cut my to do list in half and trust that it won’t cause the world to end…until next time my dear friends breathe a little deeper, slow down the pace and enjoy the season of Autumn maybe by a river with steady flow of water RUSHING downstream …

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