Stand Up to Distractions

My oldest daughter loves to share stories of her day.  I can always tell when she thinks I am distracted because she will repeat herself multiple times.  She didn't repeat the gist of the story, but the three words she was saying while my eyes on were on something else. She didn't repeat them once, but multiple times as she patiently waited for me to return.

I often think I can reply to that text and listen to her at the same time, but she knows she doesn't have my entire attention and will repeat herself like a broken record until I stop and take away the distractions which are keeping me from truly hearing her.

When I am sick or overly stressed I love distractions to take my mind away from reality.  I don't want to feel sick so a good movie can take me away for a moment.  If I'm feeling overwhelmed, the numbing monotony of a solitaire game can give my tense nerves a break.

I know these distractions don't solve anything.  I know I have to enter reality again and face whatever is before me, but they are a nice reprieve.

I've also learned that distractions can keep me from understanding what is going on around me.  I might miss subtle cues from my daughters pleading to tell me they need something from me.  I might miss hidden emotions coming from my husband informing me he needs a special kind of ear or a special word.  More importantly I might miss something I need for myself.

Distractions can keep my mind from seeing areas where I am not myself, where I have let a necessary need go unmet and now I am feeling off my kilter.  Distractions can keep me from making choices necessary for my health physically.  Time can snake away until I neglect the time needed to be strong and healthy.  Distractions can take away the mindfulness of life essential for growth and moments of graceful soaring to my highest potential.  Distractions are the thieves that deceive us until they have sucked the true life out of us.

Our world is full of distractions upon distractions.  We have to fight against cultural norms to find a few minutes distraction free.  We have to numb our minds to the many advertisements and the noises calling our attention away.

I want to encourage you to find a place and a time where you can hear and see clearly.  Find a space where the distractions can't take you away, where you can know who you are, who you are created to be and gain the power to stand for that person no matter what.