My Post-October 15th Personal Policy

I LOVE FRIDAY NIGHTS!!!!!  There.  I said it.  Friday nights have become my I'm-not-making-any-plans night.  Why?  Because the first 10 days of October drove me to tears.  After working all day (in an intense office setting), I had something every single evening and on the weekends.  It honestly about did me in.  Maybe over-scheduling is not your thing...but I just wanted to quiet my heart.  Quiet my life.  During those ten days, I did some real soul searching and what I found was an empty, sad version of me.  Me.  The girl nicknamed "Fun Angie."  I was drained.  

Around mid-October, I decided it was time to say, "No" to some things that were not my very best YES.  I do worry about people being disappointed when I am unable to help them.  I prayerfully set that aside.  My faux yes to something that should be a big fat NO is not beneficial to me and my spirit...nor will it typically cause me to a fountain to the person (or people) I am serving and/or ministering too.

When I started saying, "No" to those ho-hum things, I had more time and energy to say YES to those God-assigned homework assignments.  The first being a tutoring club.  I get the opportunity to work one-on-one with a sweet little hamster-loving 5th grader.  

I signed-up to make a meal for my dear friends.  

I visited my friend in the hospital.

I bought yarn to knit a baby gift.

I, also, got to take time for things that I like to do.  During the October 1st through the 10th stretch when I was all out of sorts, I did not do a single thing that my soul wanted to do.  I'm not neglecting that anymore.

It's not selfish.  In one circle, you will hear that it's all about God and others...and yes, it is...however when I neglect me, it really does effect the other two.  I'm done being that girl.

I'm done yes-ing away my life.  

I realize my not yes-ing is going to cause people to bawk and probably have dizzy spells.  But I can't.  I can't be everyone else's superhero and lose me.  

Sooo back to my Friday evenings...  My post-October 15th Personal Policy regarding Friday evenings is as such:

1. I skip the gym.   It's Friday.  Ain't nobody got time for that!
2. I let my crockpot slave away all day making soup.
3. I allow myself an evening of leisure.
4. I try to go to bed at my normal worknight time.  
5. I mentally put a gigantic "X" through Friday evenings on my hacienda because I respect them.

My Fridays are stressful.  I stay late at work to print out payroll stuff so my Mondays are not as stressful.  I wrap up the week's work and try to mentally prepare for the upcoming week.  Even thought I plan for the following week, when I skip out the door, I do not give sewer another thought until Monday morning when my alarm clock chimes at 5:25 a.m.  It's beautiful.

I wish the bawkers of my new-found no license would ask ME why I'm saying no.  Why don't we ask why?  Why don't we search out what the reason is behind the why so we can be a blessing to others?  This is what I've been praying...

Lord, Thank you for assignments you give me.  Help me to know Your peace for the ones I should accept; help me know the ones I should decline.  Fill the assignment-asker with patience and understanding when I do decline.  Open up another assignment-taker's heart so that they may fill in on their assignments.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

I love that I am sitting in my living room at my computer blogging.  The last couple of weeks I've been posting from my phone.  It's not the same. 

Happy weekend-ing!!!!