{"id":6484,"date":"2015-07-20T06:35:10","date_gmt":"2015-07-20T12:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/?p=6484"},"modified":"2015-07-24T06:49:02","modified_gmt":"2015-07-24T12:49:02","slug":"the-loss-of-life-beneath-your-skin-how-to-revive-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/2015\/07\/20\/the-loss-of-life-beneath-your-skin-how-to-revive-it\/","title":{"rendered":"The Loss of Life Beneath Your Skin & How to Revive It"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"making<\/em>\u201cWe push and pull
\n<\/em>And I fall down sometimes
\n<\/em>And I'm not letting go
\n<\/em>You hold the other line
\n<\/em>‘Cause there is a light
\n<\/em>In your eyes, in your eyes.\u201d
\n\u2013Mat Kearney <\/em><\/p>\n

A few months ago my newly turned 12-year-old daughter got into making iced tea.<\/p>\n

We seek out new flavors at quaint little farmers\u2019 markets and at fancy tea shops in the mall. My child holds the canister and asks questions of the vendor that I do not understand. She pays with her babysitting money.<\/p>\n

I stand back and marvel at her maturity and her newfound passion.<\/p>\n

She comes home with her wares and goes right to work. It\u2019s quite a process, and she takes it very seriously. She makes a large pitcher and offers me a glass. My daughter knows I am trying to stop drinking diet soda once and for all. So whenever she makes a new flavor, she says, \u201cI think you\u2019ll like this one, Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

She holds out that glass of deep orange liquid as if handing me a sunset made with her very own two hands.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know why I felt like crying happy tears at such an offering until my friend\u00a0shared something about her own life experience.
\n<\/p>\n

She said, \u201cJust when I feel like I am failing as a parent, a moment will come along that makes me feel like I\u2019m doing okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her moment came when her four-year-old son had earned several dollars to spend at a toy store. But instead of buying only for himself, he bought a toy for his little brother and baby sister.<\/p>\n

As she shared her story, I had an epiphany. It dawned on me that in the same place my daughter makes tea is where I smashed a casserole dish in a moment of complete and utter overwhelm. And when I did, I scared that precious child who happened to be rinsing off her dinner plate at the time. This woman who is supposed to have it all together fell apart right there in that very spot where this child makes tea in hues of yellow, purple, and orange.<\/p>\n

When my child hands me a glass and says, \u201cTaste this one, Mama,\u201d I feel like I am being handed forgiveness. The healing lyrics of one of my favorite songs<\/a> plays in my head:\u00a0Even the best fall down sometimes.<\/em> I blink back tears as I remember pieces of ceramic flying in every direction and how my daughter loves me in spite of it.<\/p>\n

\"handing<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong\u2014I didn\u2019t let myself off the hook easily. In fact, I beat myself up over that reckless choice for weeks. I thought you had stopped overreacting<\/em>, Criticism sneered. And you tell people how to have a peaceful response? What a joke<\/em>, Shame scoffed.<\/p>\n

But even the best fall down sometimes<\/em>, Grace whispered in Howie Day<\/a>\u2019s soothing voice. I play it on repeat over and over in my mind.<\/p>\n

I look back on that day in May and realize I was in a bad place. I was sleep deprived. I was trying to meet work deadlines and fulfill end-of-the-school year duties. I\u2019d been in physical pain for months. Worry over my persistent infection\u2019s mysterious cause had finally set in. In this fragile state, I made a grave mistake that could have hurt someone I love or myself.<\/p>\n

That night I went to my child\u2019s room to ask for forgiveness. I told her I deeply regretted handling that feeling of overwhelm and hopelessness by breaking a glass dish.<\/p>\n

My daughter\u2019s response surprised me. She said, \u201cSometimes when I am tired and someone gets in my face, I am like, \u2018Grrrrrr!\u2019 It\u2019s like I forget the other person has feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes. Yes. To forget the other person has feelings\u2014yes, that is when the hurt happens. That is when poor choices are made.<\/p>\n

But there was more, and my daughter\u2019s words helped me realize what it was:<\/p>\n

Sometimes I forget I<\/strong> have feelings.
\nSometimes I forget I<\/strong> have needs.
\nSometimes I forget I<\/strong> have limits.<\/p>\n

And such a volatile outburst indicates I am not caring for myself properly and need to take an honest look at how I am living.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so sorry. I did not handle the situation well. I think it\u2019s because I\u2019m not taking good care of myself lately,\u201d I realized and admitted all at once.<\/p>\n

My little budding orthopedic surgeon<\/a> quickly came up with suggestions as if she'd been waiting to be asked. More sleep, Mama. More fresh air. More water, Mama. Too many Coke Zeros. More chilling out. Get your heart rate up. And tea. Drink herbal tea instead of soda. I can make you some, Mama.<\/em><\/p>\n

It was abundantly clear that she\u2019d been concerned and had been waiting for an invitation to tell me.<\/p>\n

I publically declared then and there what I intended to do to look after myself. I would give up the soda addiction and drink more water. I would start running again, even a mile or two of heart-pumping sweat could do wonders. I would be more selective when it came to writing opportunities. I would get at least seven hours of sleep. I would go to a specialist and get to the bottom of a six-month long bladder infection instead continuing to take different antibiotics.<\/p>\n

And that is what I did. I immediately began sleeping through the night. I could think more clearly. I could handle frustration better. I went to several doctors until I got to the bottom of my health issue. A skilled urologist discovered a gargantuan sized kidney stone that was taking up over half my kidney. Left unattended or improperly removed, the results could have been fatal.<\/p>\n

When I told my doctor what the first urologist recommended for removal of the mass, she said, \u201cYou could have lost a year of your life due to complications from the wrong procedure.\u201d<\/p>\n

But all I heard was: You could have lost your life.<\/em><\/p>\n

And not just from a monstrous kidney stone, but from not looking after myself\u2014from looking after everyone but me.<\/p>\n

Even losing yourself in good works is still losing yourself \u2026<\/p>\n

Even the one who handles everything must rest and restore \u2026<\/p>\n

Even the strongest have moments of weakness \u2026<\/p>\n

Even the most vibrant on the outside can be dying on the inside \u2026<\/p>\n

Even the most vibrant\u00a0livers of life\u00a0need to frequently re-evaluate their priorities \u2026<\/p>\n

Even the best fall down sometimes.<\/p>\n

And in these moments of human vulnerability, it gives others a chance to lift, love, and carry the one who often lifts, loves, and carries them.<\/p>\n

\"the<\/p>\n

My twelve year old daughter makes tea several times a week now. It is in the exact spot where things were broken but have managed to come back stronger than before.<\/p>\n

When she hands me that tall glass of forgiveness, I am given a reminder that brings relief to my parched soul. Today I feel compelled to pass that reminder on \u2026<\/p>\n

To you, the one who yelled again today and hangs her head in shame
\nTo you, the one who doesn\u2019t even recognize himself anymore
\nTo you, the one who can\u2019t remember the last time she laughed
\nTo you, the one who can only see the damage done
\nTo you, the one who feels like he\u2019s just going through the motions
\nTo you, the one who can\u2019t seem to get herself together
\nTo you, the one who thinks thoughts she could never say out loud
\nTo you, the one who\u2019s slowly dying inside<\/p>\n

My friend, you have feelings. They are real. They are worth listening to and acknowledging.<\/p>\n

You have limits. They are real. They are necessary to keep in place as a means of valuing your time and honoring your health.<\/p>\n

You have dreams. They are real. You are worthy of time to pursue what makes your heart come alive.<\/p>\n

You have needs. They are real. You deserve affection, rest, sustenance, and grace.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you forgot you have feelings. Perhaps you forgot you have limits. Perhaps you forgot that you deserve love and care just like anyone else. Perhaps you forgot that it is necessary to look after you.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s okay. It\u2019s okay. I forgot too.<\/p>\n

But today, let us look after ourselves just as we do our loved ones. After all, what good are we if we are not here?<\/p>\n

And then maybe we can look after ourselves again tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Even the one who holds up the world needs a reprieve.
\nEven the one who doles out the love needs replenished.
\nEven the best fall down sometimes.<\/p>\n

And we\u2019ll never find out who\u2019s been waiting to help us up if we never allow ourselves to fall into the arms of grace.<\/p>\n

\"arms<\/p>\n

**************************************************<\/p>\n

Dear friends of The Hands Free Revolution community<\/a>, I have missed you all so much. I have missed reading your stories, your encouragements, your thoughts and opinions. My summer break from blogging was not what I hoped for or expected. It has been dark and painful, but I have gained so much perspective from this time. On Thursday 7\/23, I have one final kidney surgery. I am eager\u00a0to get\u00a0back to writing to you on a regular basis. While I have been focusing on my health and healing, my wonderful\u00a0publisher and talented web designer<\/a> have made the most beautiful page<\/a> for my forthcoming book,\u00a0HANDS FREE LIFE<\/a>\u00a0 (release date: September 8). It is a book about living life, not managing, stressing, screaming, or barely getting through life. This book means more to me now than it ever has. I am honored to share the book\u2019s difficult truths, Hands Free Daily Declarations, and life-changing Habit Builders with\u00a0anyone who wants to live better and love more each day. On the new book page<\/a>, you can hear me talk about the book, see what early reviewers said about it, and take advantage of the special <\/em>pre-order bonus<\/em> going on today through September 7.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>But first, tell me how you are doing. Tell me how you are going to care for yourself today. Tell me what\u2019s on your heart. I will be reading every\u00a0word you share to get though the last leg of this difficult journey on Thursday morning. Thank you for your patience, support, and companionship. I cherish you dearly.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\""Hold

“Hold on hold tight,
Make it through another night,
& everyday there comes a song with the dawn,
We push and pull and I fall down sometimes,
I'm not letting go,
You hold the other line.”
-Mat Kearney<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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