Living Well Hydrated: You can Change Your Life

When I first got married, I drank Koolaid. No, seriously. I would buy 10 packets of dye-filled Koolaid and a 5 lb bag of sugar every week and mix up a pitcher of Koolaid or two daily. I figured it had water in it, so it was the same as drinking water. Shrug. In that same season, I struggled daily with debilitating blood sugar issues, anxiety, panic attacks, and a host of other symptoms that weren't just because of the Koolaid, but certainly weren't helped by it. As a matter of fact, I am still working through health issues to this day that I can trace back to my love of sugar and my avoidance of water.

I also have always loved to watch TV. Netflix used to be my bff. No joke. There was nothing I looked forward to more than numbing out to my favorite series or series of movies every evening. It would get me through the day, the thought that in a little while I could toss away my cares and enter into a world that someone had scripted perfectly. In that same season, I struggled daily with debilitating disorder, chaos, relationship issues, and nervous system dysregulation. As a matter of fact, I am still working through mental and emotional issues that I can trace back to my avoidance of my problems.

And I've always been one of those people who strives to do over and above what is expected of me. The peacemaker in me has a perfectionist wing. This has led me to blow past my limits on a regular basis, but it also turned me into a self-righteous Pharisee for a very long time. I could out study you Biblically...out pray you on my busiest day...out fast you even with only 100lbs of me...out church you every time the doors opened...and when I couldn't, the shame was debilitating. I've walked through seasons where literally the only thing that I did "for fun" was read my Bible and pray (which was more of a begging of God to change my entire life). In that same season, I felt like a fraud, was sure God was mad at me, thought I would end up in hell any moment, and lived in the most condemnation of anyone. As a matter of fact, I am still working through spiritual issues that I can trace back to my strong belief that I could please God by doing more than everybody else for Him.

My point is that I am a poster child for the consequences of living a dehydrated life...a life that failed to utilize the resources that God designed for living well. It wasn't because I didn't want to use these resources; I truly didn't know what He'd already give me. I spent over a decade in school learning things...most of which I can't remember and have never used a day in my life. I spent my whole childhood in church services listening to sermons and lessons and going to conferences. And I've also spent my entire adulthood unlearning some things that I believed to my core and being taught some things by the Holy Spirit through sources that I would have never guessed He'd use.

The lesson that stands out to me that most is the one about the agency and responsibility and freedom that God has given me to make my life better. Truly, our life is what we make it. And not in some kind of "I did this by myself" way...relationships with God and others are resources...but in a "it's my responsibility to do something with what God has already given me" way.

When our lives feel dehydrated, it is usually because we aren't using our resources. Whether that's because we don't know what they are or because we'd rather escape things than face them or because we expect God to do the work that He expects us to do, failing to resource is like running a race without drinking water. We will notice the affects, maybe not right away, but always eventually.

Now. I don't have any secret resources to sell you. God-given resources are usually available to everyone. I say usually because there are countries in our world whose governments hoard the resources whenever they can. But the great majority of you reading this have access to the resources you need to change your life and your health. You just have to use them.

For example:

• Water is a resource.

• Rest is a resource.

• Light is a resource.

• Movement is a resource.

• Human connection is a resource.

• Seasons are a resource.

• Crying is a resource.

• God's love is a resource.

• And many, many more

What I have to offer you is an investment into the rest of your life. I've spent hours and hours and hours compiling an online course full of resources that you have available to you right now for creating a better life...things that I've learned over years and years of experience, trial and error, and research. This course gives you a foundational understanding of why these things work and how to use them. It is filled with perspective and advice for working resources into your lifestyle. These are the things that have literally changed my life, and I know they will change yours too.

While I am still working daily on hydrating my life (and keeping it hydrated), I have come so far from those Koolaid drinking, TV obsessed, "shove the Bible down my throat and yours" days. I am living days right now that I used to believe were an impossible dream. And I want to share that with everyone who wants it too.