PIN IT! Bright and early morning alongside the Cartecay River in Ellijay. JoJo Dancer was ready to continue exploring :). #NoTimeForPics
I escaped to Ellijay this weekend. I’ve been ‘escaping’ to this part of Georgia for a few years now, but never took the time to learn that Ellijay is the anglicized form of the Cherokee name Elatseyi, meaning “new ground.”
Talk about a perfect name for this time in my life. So much is new for me. I’m in a new juncture of my career and personal life. It’s exciting. It’s scary. It’s frustrating. It’s weird. It’s different. And honestly it can all get a bit overwhelming.
I needed a break and some time to reflect. I prayed. I listened. I talked. I wrote. I read. I laughed. I cooked. I walked. I danced. I flirted. I sang. I dreamed up new ideas.
There’s something about being THISclose to nature – a roaring river outside your window, a canopy of trees, and the sound of wildlife that’s inspiring as a Christian (God made ALL of this…and me too) and an artist. It stirs the Creator in me (literally and figuratively).
I “worked” a little, spending some time with my current bible study workbook Lord, Teach Me to Pray by Kay Arthur and Lara Casey’s gorgeous Powersheets. The words, wisdom and encouragement from both of these ladies gave me life.
It’s Spring Break time and while adults don’t officially get that time off (btw I’m so salty about that…and summer breaks…and naps), it’s so important we take time to recharge. I know it’s hard. Sometimes it feels like if you pause, life will pass you by or something will fall through the cracks. Purposeful living and intentional decisions require reflection.
There’s a cliché I’ve heard (and used) professionally about how sometimes you have to: “build a plane while you’re flying it.” It’s true. There are days we’re hit with crises and issues that force us to plan and execute almost simultaneously. However, that shouldn’t be the case with everything. Every scenario can’t be a “fire drill” (another cliché :)). Escaping for a moment helps to build your capacity, not only for long-term dream fulfillment but I believe it gives you a good foundation and makes you more confident in just “flying the plane.”
Thanks to the break away, I feel more prepared for “new ground” now than I ever had.