BACKWARDS TREASURE HUNT
Someday when things slow down. . .
Ahhh, that elusive someday, that secret place of wonder we all so longingly wish and continually wait for . . .
When will it appear? Maybe tomorrow?!
Then . . .
We’ll finally have time to catch up on all these things around the house.
We’ll finally have time to spend doing fun things with our kids.
We’ll finally have time to do those things we really want to do.
We’ll finally have time for ourself and our sanity.
We’ll finally have time . . .
REALITY CHECK
Someday is an illusion.
Life is NEVER going to calm down enough for us to put off until tomorrow what we should be doing today, because . . .
Tomorrow never comes.
Life consists of multiple ever moving moments forward . . . invisible, unpredictable, chaotic. . . all vying for our attention at once. If we don’t consciously focus our thoughts, our mind will auto-drift towards chaos.
Forget about someday. Replace it with simple.
We can start today . . . right now . . . this very moment. We can play a game, seriously, like when we were kids.
Now, I’m not a big game player. I especially don’t like head games. However, even I enjoy this game, even though it could be considered a head game of sorts.
Backwards Treasure Hunt
So, the standard story or game goes that one travels along a path, hunting for clues, that lead to a hidden chest filled with all kinds of amazing treasures.
With our version, we’re going in reverse. We begin with the chest. We already have it. We know where it is. And it’s empty.
The chest is in our mind. Throughout our day, from the moment we wake, we travel along our normal daily path, hunting for all kinds of amazing treasures to fill our chest.
Examples . . .
I woke up this morning. I’m alive.
I open my eyes. I can see.
I’m safe, warm, dry, comfortable. I’m rested, lying in a bed, snuggled in cozy cocoon, my head on a soft pillow. I have a home.
I pull my arms out, stretch, toss my blankets off, hang my legs over the side of the bed, and sit up . . . by myself. I have all of my limbs. My body auto-works without my even thinking about it.
How many treasures have I already put into my chest and I haven’t even gotten out of bed yet?!
You get the idea. By the time we return to our bed tonight, laying our head down on that same pillow, our treasure chest will be overflowing. We’ll see life much differently.
This is one of the best exercises I’ve found for focusing my mind where I want it to be. Because it’s so simple, free, fun, and actually works, it doesn’t take long for it to become a habit.
What amazing treasures will you fill your chest with?
Think about it . . .
As I think in my mind, I am ~ Proverbs 23:7