My son Alex was telling me about his day in sixth grade after I picked him up from school when he explained he’d become tired during the afternoon. He said he hit a low point but then realized he hadn’t been drinking enough water. He said he drank some water and it “brought him back to life.” That reminded me of one day when we were at Disney World this summer and it was extremely hot. We were in a long line outside when Alex said he was thirsty. I didn’t have any water to give him at that time, so I offered him a piece of gum thinking that might help. “That won’t give me salvation,” he huffed. I think he meant saliva, but I appreciated the way he mistakenly phrased his frustration. He needed replenishment in both circumstances. Thankfully, he recognized his need and sought it out.  

On the other hand, my daughter Riley doesn’t always see what’s coming until it’s almost too late. She is very susceptible to becoming “hangry.” This phenomenon happens when a person needs food desperately but has waited too long to eat and is now angry with everyone and about everything. It’s almost become a joke in our family. I say almost because the results of her hanger can still be unsettling. She’s called from college upset or mad about something, and later texted that it turned out she hadn’t eaten in a while so that could’ve been partly responsible for her mood. I told my husband Ben that maybe I should first ask if she’s had anything to eat when she calls in a tiff. We’ve told her not to make big decisions or tell anyone off until she determines whether she’s hungry. The girl needs to carry a granola bar with her constantly just in case. 

We don’t always realize when we need restoration. Even though there are times when we probably should recognize we are nearing empty physically, mentally, or emotionally because we are going through a stressful or hectic season. Instead, we usually barrel ahead ignoring the signs or the nagging sense that we are not, in fact, okay. And while water, food, and a good nap can solve many problems, we need to determine what else we need when we are struggling.

When I find myself depleted, I examine what I could do help myself, and I usually find that I’ve failed to do the very things that could provide nourishment for my soul. I need make sure I’ve taken my medication. I need to write to process my feelings and ground myself in my truth. I need to visit with my friends and talk to my therapist. I also need some alone time to reset but not so much that I isolate completely. I need to go to church. I need to look at my schedule so that I am neither overwhelmed nor underwhelmed with activities. I need to watch a good rom-com to lift my spirits because I know it will have a happy ending. I need to read a good book. 

I’m not saying that these actions work all the time. Sometimes, life can’t be put back together with a simple list like mine, but I know to try them first. To fall back on what’s worked in the past to try and heal the present. If we could all spend some time thinking about the strategies that work best for us, we can better default to them instead of feeling completely lost when we seem to be losing our way. Maybe then we can bounce back to life just a little easier.