There are times where I become overly immersed in my thoughts while driving. I tend to overanalyze every car that I see, fixating on how they all have a destination. Whether that destination is work, a beach, home, or an airport, I’m always left with the impression that they are going somewhere. Some of those cars maneuver recklessly, swerving in and out of lanes as quickly as possible. Perhaps they are running late or on their way to an emergency but whatever it is, they are willing to risk their life to get to that destination. And then there are other drivers that prefer the scenic route. There is little to no haste and extreme cautiousness on their route. I highlight this because I sometimes find myself being in the slow lane on the road. And I need to speed up. Metaphorically, of course.

Oftentimes as an adult, life can begin to feel a bit repetitive. Wake up, go to work/school, find or make dinner, relax for a bit, sleep and repeat. This was a routine I grew up fearing and now that I’m actually living it, I’m frightened. Getting lost in that routine can be potentially damaging, and the effect of it leads to an outcome that is difficult to get out of: You begin to lose a sense of who you are. Working a 9-5 everyday becomes exhausting. So exhausting to the point where you have no energy to do anything that makes you, you. That makes you unique. That makes you want to be happy and love the life you live. And when you start to let go of those things, the depressive thoughts invade your mind, the healthy lifestyle choices diminish, and you are constantly searching for comfort in any form.

 The harsh reality of this outcome is when you finally make time to do the things that make you happy and feel good, and they start to feel like chores or you’re wasting time. For example, I am relatively an active person and I frequently work out at home or the gym. It makes me feel good and look good. However, for the past few months, I’ve been losing the motivation to workout due to it feeling like a chore. I’m so burnt out and stressed from work, that I’m looking for comfort or the easy way out. And slowly, but surely one day of not working out becomes two. Two days a week of not working out becomes four. Before you know it, I’ve gone a week without working out. And I feel even worse. Not only from the lack of exercise, but from guilt. So how do I climb out of it? How do I get out of this slow lane? I don’t want to move recklessly, but I need some pep in my step.

I think the answer to this question is sacrifice. Unfortunately, we live in a world that wants us to spend all of our time working for someone else, in order to survive. Because of this, we must use the time that we have left remembering who we are. Remembering what makes us happy. Remembering what it is, that keeps us going. And sometimes doing those things will feel like a sacrifice, but that’s okay. Sacrifices today, can bring us a better life for tomorrow. It doesn’t have to be a significant sacrifice either. Start small, whether it is a 30-minute workout or 30 minutes of meditation. Enhance your life in a way that is beneficial for you. This is all a part of your journey. So never try to rush to the destination. Find the right pace and embrace the stops you have along the way.

-Bri ✌️

Photo by Spencer Selover: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-showing-asphalt-road-428431/