In Between

By Resna Marie Brunson, MSC

The month of August can be marked as uneventful.  There  are no major holidays or commencement of seasons. Merchants are looking ahead and beginning to clothe shelves with fall, Halloween, and yes… Christmas items. The one event that stands out is back to school which seems to only excite college freshman students. One could say August is an “in between month.” It is sandwiched between the pinnacle of summer and the beginning of the fall/holiday season.  Like the month of August, life has its in between moments. Times where we may feel bored, restless and without direction. There are no “big events” in our near future and life feels as if it is on cruise control. How do we appreciate and take full advantage of the “ moments  in between?”  How do we fill the emptiness? I would like to suggest we use these times to focus on reflection and restoration.

Reflection: 

Life’s daily events often keep us busy and do not leave room for reflection. Spending time reflecting and processing our past highs and lows, harvesting lessons learned and fueling hope with memories help us to plan and prepare for things ahead. We do not get life do overs but we can implement lessons learned from our past as we gleam into the future. 

Restoration:

In a previous post, I suggested exploring ways to restore ourselves physically and mentally. Pursuing piqued interests that have grabbed our attention can be incredibly restorative. We can also be replenished by being still with a purpose and embracing quiet moments. This can be as simple as savoring your morning coffee/tea  without distractions, or spending a few minutes observing nature.

The “in-between” moments are a gift, offering a chance to regroup, learn, and re-energize. We can be intentional during periods of stillness. Having someone to help you feel productive as you move through the in-between seasons of life can be helpful. 

Ready to take the next step?