I Allowed My Tank To Get Empty

I was mowing out at our land yesterday and ran the thing completely dry.

Like, shut down, bone dry.

It takes about 4 hours to mow everything, and I typically take a break or two to feed myself, Gracie, get some water, put some more sunscreen on, etc.

This time when I took a break I thought, "Nah I can make it. I'll be just fine."

Well, I made it about 30 minutes and wasn't exactly close to the shop where the very full gas can was. I jumped off the mower, walked to the shop, grabbed the full-to-the-brim 5-gallon gas can, lugged it back to the mower, and then refilled it.

Mind you, I am 5'1 and our mower is kinda tall. So, it's not just to tip the gas can in and fill it up.

It's heaving the gas can up with my leg, getting the nozzle in the hole, and pushing in and down on the spout thing while making sure not to tip it too much, or else it'll leak out the nozzle.

For 5 gallons. Which means switching sides 4 or 5 times.

I filled that sucker up and then walked it back to the shop. As I was walking back I admitted something to myself.

That mower was not the only thing that had been fully empty - I had let myself get empty.

August has kicked my ass and I didn't do a good job of managing myself. I tried to keep doing the normal stuff along with less childcare and a big event with Sean's work.

Saturday night it hit with mentally and physically. Body aches + grouch city.

So, I took a long walk after dinner (while Sean did most of the bedtime), took a nap on Sunday (while Sean did meal prep), and apologized to Ellie for not taking better care of myself.

This morning was her first day of school and afterward, I bought a cup of coffee, cleaned out the garage as things had just been placed somewhere instead of actually put away and the clutter was too much, and then cleaned out and washed my car.

Goodness, it felt so freaking good! It's the little things. It's taking time to do the little things because they really do add up. Just like I could have filled up the mower before it was completely dry - I could have filled myself up before I was completely dry.

So, as school starts, as our sitter comes back, and as gymnastics goes from mornings to evenings I'm trying hard not to fill my schedule as much as I feel like I should. Because, if I'm not careful, I definitely will!

My goal is to be more intentional with everything and make sure I'm pausing to fill myself up so that I don't run out and become a grouch monster :).

For me that looks like, taking my daily walks, not overdoing it on caffeine, going to be on time (even when I feel I need to do a couple more things), regularly washing my car (seriously the best feeling), and not forcing something on my list that can wait.

What about you? What is ONE thing that you want to make sure gets on your list to keep you full? I'd love to hear it!