"See how ugly 'stagnant' is?"
That's the thought that came to me while pondering a difficult decision and trying to clear my head with some intoxicating fresh air. As I was gliding through the woods on a picturesque nature trail that day, everything was perfect. The sun was brilliant, and the sky - so blue. The temperature was ideal, the breeze was blowing, and my heart was pumping just enough to fire up those all too idle leg muscles. It was amazing.
Then I pedaled past a long stretch of trail that had a green, foul, slimy pool of stagnant water along the side of it. Gross. Even though it WAS a nature trail, somehow, this gob of buggy mess struck me as so out of place.
Ever been stuck? You know the feeling. You're moving through your life – maybe your extremely full and busy life - but somehow, it feels like you're not going anywhere. And life is pooling all around you and starting to smell. YOU'RE not ugly – but your stagnant state of being is, and you know it doesn't belong. It's messing up the scenery. I think we've all been there. So how do we get unstuck?
That day, the answer came as clear as that stunner of a sky above me. As I pumped the pedals faster and faster, the thought came over and over; JUST. MOVE. And right then and there, I made my decision.
Movement is the antidote to stagnancy, so I moved. For me, that meant leaving the comfort of a job I had poured myself into for over 15 years. A job that I had given so much of my life to - and gotten much in return. For you, maybe it's as simple as finally cleaning out that messy closet that's been driving you nuts. Or it could be as complex as becoming a full-time missionary in Cambodia because you know deep in your heart it's what you're meant to do. But, chances are, it's somewhere in between.
And if you're looking for ideas to get your life moving again, seek ways to get outside of yourself and add value to others. Generosity brings the fresh water like nothing else, I think. Giving clears the stench and gets everything moving again. The best and most fulfilling way to move is on behalf of others.
But whatever you do and however you do it - refuse to grow stagnant. Life only stinks if you let it.
It's your move.
Cheers to a beautiful, fresh New Year!