Life has a funny way of taking twists and turns and sending us in unexpected directions.
Sometimes we even end up completely sideways.
Forced to be at an angle that just doesn't make sense.
I opened my coat closet yesterday and found a hanger standing straight up. Someone must have been in an awful hurry when they grabbed their coat (probably me).
I opened a few of my other closets. Many of the empty hangers were either this way or extremely crooked.
And it made me wonder - is our life really so busy that we frantically grab things from the closet and leave the hangers sitting at such odd angles?
How can we not take that extra second to put things right before walking away?
I think maybe it's because as I get older, I can literally feel the world spinning faster.
Cliche, right? But it’s true.
And as it spins faster, I'm finding it just a little harder to keep my balance.
This sense of being off-balance sometimes makes me feel like I am hanging sideways, like that hanger in the closet.
Sure, you can still hang a coat on it, but something just doesn’t sit quite right.
Maybe it's because my brain is wearing down after years of constant thinking and decision-making.
Years of stressing over so many things in life, most of them not really even important, are taking their toll.
But yet, I'm only halfway through. Spending the rest of my life sideways isn't very appealing to me.
So, how do I right myself?
What do I need to do differently to hang just a little straighter?
I start by making a list (big surprise to those who know me well).
Just a few simple things I can do to reset and recharge. Things that are so easy to forget about when I'm caught up in the whirlwind of life.
First, to clear my brain so I can think straighter:
Spend more time resting and less time doing things that don't matter.
Second, to remind me of why I should walk straight and proud:
Reflect on the successes in my life and the qualities that make me who I am today.
And third, to rejuvenate my spirit and give me strength:
Connect with the people I love - laugh and hug and just "be"
We may sometimes end up sideways in life. But, it's so important to remember that we don't have to stay that way.
This morning, I walked through my entire house, opened every closet and righted every hanger that wasn't straight.
And guess what?
It felt really good to be back on level ground again.