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I Put Myself in a Timeout

6/12/2014

17 Comments

 
Tomorrow is going to arrive whether I am ready or not. Let it. Because for right now, for these stolen moments, everything is fine. I am fine. You are fine. Tired maybe, a little beat up, but still breathing. Still standing. I'm gonna roll with that. Deal with tomorrow when it gets here. 
I'm just not going to worry about what hasn't happened yet.
 For right now, I'm just gonna be.
~J.V. Manning

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I turned to my husband last night and asked him a simple question; "When is it my turn?" I work hard, take care of others and do good every chance I can. I am responsible. I am ethical. I do right when doing wrong would be so much easier. I take care of everyone else. I stand up for others and be their voice when their voice falters. Yet, every time I seem to turn around, life throws me another curve ball.

The past few months having been trying. The last remnants of the past that need to be cleared away once and for all have been begging for attention, work stress, life stress and out of my control situations. It dawned on me the other day, I'm exhausted. Soul exhausted. Throw-my-hands-up and say "NO MORE!" exhausted. The I-want-to-run-away-to-an-deserted-island exhausted. I'm frustrated. I'm cranky. I'm over it.

And I have absolutely no idea what to do about it.
Oh, wait. Yes I do. I am going to put myself in a timeout.

A timeout? Yep. Remember those as kids? When we misbehaved or did something wrong. When we let our emotions get out of control and frustrated our parents. Remember? When it felt like the world was ending because we had to sit in a corner or on the couch and couldn't move or do anything. Remember? I.Want.That. Except maybe not in a corner or sequestered on the couch. I want to take myself out of the game of life for a few innings and catch my breath. I want to fix the feeling of disconnect inside my soul. I want my strength back and if I continue on, maintain the status quo, I know in my heart of hearts - nothing will ever change. 

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Sometimes, our lives must be completely shaken up, changed and rearranged to get us on the path to where we are meant to be. I don’t know about you, but mine has been shaken, stirred and served on the rocks way too much. It has been twisted and turned so many times that I am surprised I still know which way is up. However, each time something shook my life up it always seemed to cause another piece to fall into place. Each time I learned a life lesson it brought me closer to the person I am supposed to be. Each instance scared the hell out of me and made me question every single thing I knew about myself, yet, without fail, every single time I came out changed and almost always for the better,though maybe a bit more jaded. 

I know it feels that each time life knocks me around it's harder and harder to see my way through and I think that’s because every time my life gets rocked, it is one step closer to where I am supposed to be and nothing in life worth having is ever easy. You have to tear down, rebuild and then do it all over again til you get it right. No one gets this life right all the time, no one. We are all just figuring it out as we go.

But there are those who see opportunity in the darkness. There are those who find their greatest strengths in their worst moments of weakness. I want to be one of those people. Wait, I am one of those people. It is just sometimes, I forget. Sometimes, I have to put myself in a time out. I have to take time to catch my breath. I have to get back in touch with that fire in my soul and get reacquainted with the fighter inside. Because it is so easy to forget. It is so easy to listen to the voices in this world who judge you, belittle you and it's so easy to allow yourself to be taken for granted. It's easy to get so bogged down with the shit life throws at you that you simply lose your mind.

I lost mine last week. I did. And while it wasn't my most stellar moment, it had to happen.

May had been a brutal month. Work stress building. Little "life" things were piling up. I was exhausted. On the last Friday of the month I learned that a friend had taken his own life, then two hours later, a horrific accident happened in front of my home. My husband and I flew outside to help the injured man, but alas, the only help we could offer him were our prayers and our voices so he would know he was not alone. Though paramedics responded swiftly, the young 21 year old kid didn't make it. In those eight seconds leading up to the crash, everything changed. Everything. That accident and news of my friend's death went through every single layer of defenses I have immediately. I was heartbroken, devastated and completely without a compass to tell me which direction to go.  

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For the first time in my life I just wanted to throw my hands up and say, "I quit!" Which I did, four days later, at work. After more than a decade, I left my job. Was I thinking rationally? Nope. But I had been unhappy for a long time and it all seem to come to a head suddenly. I realized I had no more to give them. I realized with sudden clarity, I had nothing more left inside of me to deal with all of the drama. In my head I found myself repeating - eight seconds. Eight seconds was the amount of time it took for that accident to happen. Eight seconds to claim a young life and devastate a family. Eight seconds.

I want every single eight seconds in my life to count. I want every single moment I have on this planet to mean something. I want to catch my breath, reconnect my soul to my mind, and get back out into this world and make a difference. I needed this time out more than I even realized. I have been doing, healing and figuring out so much over the past decade that I have not allowed myself a moment to just stop and be fine.

Tomorrow is going to arrive whether I am ready or not. Let it. Because for right now, for these stolen moments, everything is fine. I am fine. You are fine. Tired maybe, a little beat up, but still breathing. Still standing. I'm gonna roll with that. Deal with tomorrow when it gets here. I'm just not going to worry about what hasn't happened yet. 

For right now, I'm just gonna be.

When I asked my husband last night "when was it going to be my turn?" He just looked at me funny and in that moment I knew the answer. My turn is right now. I will pull in on myself and take my timeout because I need it. I'm no good to anyone otherwise. The world will not stop. We won't go broke (please buy my new book) and when the time is right, life will go forward again. But only when the time is right.

Put yourself in a timeout. You deserve it. Your soul needs it. You will be better for it.


17 Comments
Allison
6/12/2014 01:34:18 pm

My heart goes out to you . I , too, need a time out. I just feel like I can't take any more bad news, financial worries, talk about sickness and home care and the list goes on and on. Just when I think everything will be okay--WHAM-- another problem knocks me down again. I'm tired of crying and not sleeping and dreading the day. I want to run. That's all I think about. I want to run and escape from all of this. I do need a time out badly. So the nights that you are awake feeling like you're all alone in this craziness- you're a "Random "post response away from knowing you're not.

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Random Jenn
6/13/2014 12:22:01 am

Oh sweet Allison, I just want to hug you after reading this. It is hard when in a cycle like this. That is why it is so important to out yourself in a timeout to catch your breath. Doesn't have to be a long one, even just an hour can help. Time to still your raging mind and emotions, take deep cleansing breaths and reconnect with your soul and inner fight.

Though it may seem like there is no end in sight, you will make it through to the other side of this. I promise. Timeouts are okay, but never give up. You will see your way through. Promise.

Lotsa love xoxo
~Jenn

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deedee
6/12/2014 08:22:50 pm

thank you so much for such an enlightening article.i was literally crying coz i can relate to the tiniest bit..setback would be about marriage though and not work..well a bit at work but still manageable.you are amazing.keep inspiring people with your articles.

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Random Jenn
6/13/2014 12:24:29 am

Thank you deedee, your compliments touched my heart. Marriage setbacks are one of the most hardest things to take. Timeouts work for a lot of things, for they are a moment to center ourselves and help us to be be proactive instead of reactive. Stay strong my friend.

Lotsa love xoxo
~Jenn

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Leemor
6/13/2014 04:52:10 am

Thanks for this amazing article that came at the exact time I needed to read it 💜

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Random Jenn
6/13/2014 09:31:06 am

Leemor, I am so glad you found it! Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. Stay strong my friend.

xoxo
~Jenn

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Astrid Melleberg, Thank you for your beautiful article, just when I needed it. Our soul needs quiet and peace . Im exhausted too...thanj you again for sharing. ♡
6/13/2014 11:26:44 am

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Random Jenn
6/14/2014 01:30:08 am

Such truth Astrid. Make sure to find time to take care of yours. ♥

xoxo ~Jenn

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Vikki Thompson
6/13/2014 01:13:10 pm

Wow! So very glad I saw this post on f/b, it is everything my best friend needs to read right now, I will be buying your book if only to help give yourself some timeout , thank you xxxx

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Random Jenn
6/14/2014 01:31:35 am

It is amazing how the universe conspires to bring to you exactly what you need at the exact moment you need it. Thank you so much for your comment, you made my heart happy. And thanks for getting my book, hope you love it!!

xoxo
Jenn

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swati nigam link
6/13/2014 06:59:59 pm

It was strange reading your blog tonight because it felt like it was me who was saying all this. I so need a timeout. And all alone, without anymore demands on my time, without anyone needing me for anything. Just a few days of quiet peaceful time in a clean beautiful place (that I don't need to clean and beautify myself), all by myself. You are such an amazing writer Jenn... Hugs, Swati. PS: Sharing this on my page.

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Random Jenn
6/14/2014 01:34:09 am

I hope dear Swati, you take the time for you. You need it. You deserve it. You will be better for it. Promise. It is so easy to make excuses as to way we can't but it is more important to find ways that we can.

Thank you for your sweet words and sharing this piece. ♥

Lotsa love,
~Jenn

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Salli
6/14/2014 03:48:53 am

Oh Jenn!!! My heart goes out to you!!! Sending you love and hugs from Missouri! As it has been mentioned in all the comments, your writing and topics reflect for many of us! I believe that many of us feel alone in our times of struggle, when we just need to remember that we have friends, family and even online friends that help us to re-find our way. You are an inspiration to many of us, and yet another topic that touches my heart and I can resonate with at this point in my own life. Life, marriage, family, unknown outside sources...they tend to throw us curve balls and knock us off our feet. While I try to use them as times to reflect...sometimes there are just so many curve balls that you find yourself sinking into an abyss. I myself am trying to overcome the abyss, without much luck lately. Still trying, so there is still hope! Love to you my friend! <3

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Random Jenn
6/14/2014 07:43:32 am

You Salli are such a sweet soul. So many who are struggling out there in this world. Makes me sad. Yet fuels me to use my words in hopes of shedding some light into their darkness.

You will overcome the abyss. Never ever stop fighting. You will get through it. I know you will.

Lotsa love my friend,
~Jenn

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Michelle Wolfe
6/19/2014 01:04:44 am

Bravo My Dear!
I wish I had read this a few years ago. It is a strangely difficult journey to get to the place where we decide me matter enough. Enough to change, enough to let go, enough to close our eyes-open our arms- and just fall forward. When are we enough? When we decide we are. That's it. Being us is just a decision away. Life doesn't have to kick us hard first but it sees to work out that way. It gets to be your time Jenn because you matter. Not because you write and blog and help others, but just because you matter. You are a valuable entity of the universe and you matter. That's why.

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Roberta Keeton
3/12/2015 02:40:09 pm

I love reading your blog. It was so real to me this time. It was as if I were speaking it. I needed that Time Out today. My husband knew this by my tone and the look on my face. He came to me and pretty much told me to tame the time out...a much needed time out. I felt so much better and then read your blog. Thank you for your words. They do make a difference.

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kimberlie taylor
3/12/2015 04:30:53 pm

wow! absolutely beautiful words to an amazing truly powerful meaning. Life has thrown me some very tough times as well and I have learned some real hard lessons and will still be going through some tough times coming up. Everything seemed to hit all at once! I thank you for what you have said it gives me comfort to know that I am not alone and my heart goes out to you for what you have been through. The beach for 24 hours is what I used to do! It works wonders!

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