Hey friend,

A few weeks ago, my 90-year-old mother and I were out running errands. By that point, we'd been in and out of stores, riding around town, checking things off the list.

Mom has arthritis in her knees, and some days they really bother her. As we were wrapping up, I asked, "Do you want to stop by Lowe's and get some flowers for the back deck?"

Without missing a beat, she said:

"I'm not hurting when I do something I love."

Now, let's be clear.

The arthritis didn't magically disappear. But something shifted.

The woman who had been moving carefully all morning suddenly had energy.

Purpose. Interest. A mission. She has had a green thumb and love for plants and flowers her whole life.

Before I knew it, she was sitting on the deck with a trowel in her hand, planting flowers and telling me where everything should go.

And honestly?

I've been thinking about that sentence ever since.

Thirst

Most of us assume we're tired because we're doing too much.

Sometimes that's true.

But I wonder if another kind of exhaustion is quietly sneaking up on us. The exhaustion that comes from spending most of our days in obligation.

Work. Family. Household. Community.

The endless cycle of things that need to be done, should be done, or are expected to be done.

And somewhere along the way, the things we genuinely enjoy start getting pushed to the edge of our lives.

We'll do that later.

When work slows down. When the kids are older. When caregiving gets easier. When things settle down.

But "later" has a way of becoming years.

That's the thirst.

Not just being busy.

Being disconnected from the things that make you feel alive.

Recipe

My mother's comment reminded me of something simple:

Joy creates energy.

Obligation consumes it.

That doesn't mean we get to eliminate every responsibility from our lives.

I still had laundry and cleaning waiting for me when we got home.

You probably still have deadlines, meetings, and commitments waiting for you too.

But maybe the answer isn't always doing less.

Maybe it's doing more of what lights you up.

Research in positive psychology suggests that activities aligned with our interests, strengths, and sense of meaning can increase energy, engagement, and overall well-being.

In other words, the things we love aren't distractions from life.

They're fuel for it.

Here's the reframe:

Stop asking only, "What do I need to get done?"

Start asking, "What gives me energy?"

Because the goal isn't to escape responsibility.

The goal is to make sure responsibility isn't the only thing left.

Quench

• Inspiration: The things you love are not frivolous. They're clues.
• Education: Energy isn't created only through rest. It's also created through meaning, purpose, and enjoyment.
• Invitation: What is one thing you used to love that you've slowly stopped making time for?

This week, put it back on the calendar. Not when everything else gets finished.

Now.

Closing Sip

Watching my mother plant flowers reminded me that joy doesn't have an expiration date.

At 90, she still knows what she loves.

The question is:

Do you?

If this resonated, hit reply and tell me one thing you love doing that you've been neglecting lately. I read every message and would love to hear from you.

And if you're in a season of figuring out what comes next, that's exactly the work I help women do through coaching and consulting.

Forward this to someone who has spent so much time being responsible that they've forgotten what they enjoy.

Here's to ending May energized... and quenched!

Lynne

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