The “12-Hour” Life
Many of us know this well… Those difficult phases of our life when hardship slams into us like a shipwreck. The remnants of our peace and happiness scatter like splinters over sharp rocks of uncertainty. When every day we wander the caverns of our life, picking up the treasures that still remain— little pockets of joy in the rubble that come in the form of a hot cup of coffee, a long shower, a nap on the porch, or simply the motivation to smile…
Battling a trying time like illness, addiction, or loss of a loved one feels as unsteady as shifting sand. We begin to live life in short segments because… we can’t plan for the future. We can’t make commitments to others or promise we’ll show up to any future events. We can’t see beyond the horizon of our pain. Therefore, we adapt to “The 12-Hour Life.” That hopeful focus on just getting through the next 12 hours because that’s all there is— 12 hour shifts of doing the best we can.
Last night while lying in bed, I asked my significant other, “What do you want to do tomorrow?” He responded, “I’m not sure. Why don’t we start with breakfast and see where it goes from there?” Suddenly this beautiful, warm wave of peace enveloped me…
You see, with The 12-Hour life, the nights are always the worst because the morning is an unknown. The clock starts over again. What will morning bring? A fresh start, or another battle? Will it be a “good day” or will it be even worse than today? But he said, let’s “start with breakfast…” My tired mind immediately began dreaming up french toast, eggs, bacon, and sweet coffee as I melted into my blankets and fell quickly to sleep. I had a vision for tomorrow—not the whole day—but at least the beginning of it, and it looked lovely!
If you’re going through a hard time right now and can’t seem to get beyond 12 hours, try to at least envision a positive start to the next day. No one knows what tomorrow holds, but we can be grateful for just waking up! Having breath in our lungs and a beat in our heart! So, how about we just start with breakfast and see where the day takes us…
With Love, Michelle
