Photo courtesy of flickr.com/photos/mrbeck/2720291649

February 7, 2015, is a day that will stay etched in my mind forever. It was the birthday where two digits turned and the day we decided to start looking at selling our house and buying another. It was an emotional day! So, in two months we sold the house where we’d lived for fourteen years and bought another. Moving and purging a house where we lived for fourteen years was a rough and rocky journey. But, it got done through the strength God gave and the help that came through family and friends.

Something I found while purging was a square, rubber gadget used for gripping the lid on a tight jar so it could be loosened enough to open. It just happened to have words written on it that said: Getting a Grip on Wellness. Needless to say, I was wound tight and needed help! I love the hints that are listed on this little yellow gadget:

• Laugh
• Share your feelings
• Pray often
• Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like
• Think “hope”
• Stop global whining
• Exercise regularly
• Have a positive attitude
• Hug a child
• Read a book
• Tell the faith story
• Forgive an enemy
• Pet a dog or cat
• Encourage a friend
• Celebrate life
• Say “Yes”
• Thank and praise God all day long
• Pray for someone
• Smile at a grouch
• Sing along with the radio
• Study the Bible

I know I was running on adrenaline for weeks, so by the time we closed on the sell of our house, I was wound tight, and had to figure out how to get a “grip” on myself. This goal became the topic that my life coach and I discussed last week. Quite a few of the suggestions from this list surfaced as the way to get back to where I needed to be. Stillness with God, taking daily walks, and working on a loved hobby were the three things I am making sure are included in my day. It’s amazing to see and feel the tension leave that built up during this stressful time. Being intentional about priorities takes discipline, but it is the way of getting a grip on life and overall wellness that result in joy and freedom.