Dancing shards of sunlight are peeking through the canopy of leaves above me and the soft spring breeze is sneaking between the trees, over the branches, and is cooled as it travels through the forest and across my face. I’m sitting on a bench at Swine Creek and there’s not a single thought in my mind. I’m just enjoying a moment of quiet peace with nature. It’s Friday afternoon and I’m useless. My brain and my body are fried from working hard all week and all I want to do is sit here and watch that butterfly float around the apple blossoms at the edge of the clearing.
I quit.
Every Friday afternoon I quit my job.
I give up.
I walk away.
I think it’s one of the best things I’ve done for my personal life and professional career. I stop trying to conquer the world. I do what I can, or I do nothing at all. It’s not a magic formula or a grand theory; it’s just what works for me.
In some senses I think we are all quitters on Friday.
Whatever your end of the week is, it’s ok to let go, give up, “quit” for a little while.
Rather than keep driving hard, keep pushing, and keep exhausting yourself even more, why not try quitting. Maybe you’ll find a long lost hobby you haven’t enjoyed in years. Maybe you’ll finally give yourself the break you deserve.
It’s easy to forget that we need to take care of ourselves in order to truly take good care of those around us that we lead, love, and serve. But it’s important to remember to help yourself, too.
So today – think about quitting for a few hours. Get out and enjoy a long walk in nature. You’ll be surprised at how much more productive and happy you’ll be when you go back to work Monday.
Are you a quitter?
