During an ice breaker recently, someone asked “What do you do to recharge?” It made me pause. After a busy season, how do we replenish our energy? Before beginning a new month, how do we refuel and reset?
These are important questions, especially for someone like me–someone who tends to push through exhaustion without stopping to consider the toll. Pressing on has always been my default. But a recent experience made me rethink that approach.
Some loved ones run out of gas on the interstate. Of course, it called for immediate action. We grabbed the empty gas can from the shed, drove to the gas station, and took the fuel to their location. They could not have continued without the much needed gas. Just four gallons were enough to get them moving again–to reach a gas station for a complete refuel. That moment reminded me: pressing on isn’t always an option, but neither is waiting for the perfect time to stop and refuel completely. Sometimes, small amounts of fuel are enough to keep us going.
That’s the lesson I took from my friend’s icebreaker answer. She recharges by listening to music or reading a good book.The best part of her answer is knowing what type of books she likes to read. Recharging doesn’t have to be grand or complicated. It might mean letting myself do something frivolous and fun. It could be something quiet and slow. Maybe I need solitude, or I need to connect with people I love. A warm bath, a massage, a walk in the sunshine–there’s no wrong way to refuel, only the mistake of not doing it at all.
A new month is here. Winter is fading, and spring is on its way. As time moves forward, I remind myself: it’s okay to pause. It’s okay to hit the reset button. So, I ask myself–and you–, “What do you need to recharge?”
It’s okay to refuel along life’s highway so that you can make it to the next destination. Don’t forget, a little can take you farther than you think.