Vince Lombardi, the great Green Bay Packers legendary football coach once said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”
Recently I chose to become homeless for 100 hours on the streets of Los Angeles. The first night, it was pouring rain, 38 degrees and I was desperately trying to sleep under a freeway overpass lying on dirt. Sleep eluded me. At about 4 a.m., after doing jumping jacks all night to stay warm, I told my partner, who was part of the “empathy encounter,” that I was tapping out. No sleep and cold temperatures destroyed my will to fight on. Fatigue had triumphed over courage. Ultimately, I chose to not quit and finished the 100 hours.
Spending one week homeless on the streets of LA was exhausting yet revealing. Living under the stress of no walls, no security, no food, and no provisions, pushed me to a breaking point. During my periods of heightened stress, which we all experience, oftentimes daily, I was reminded of a recent recipe I learned on how to deal with stress, anxiety, and help find balance.
Divert Daily Withdraw Weekly Abandon Annually
Each day, do something that is a diversion from the daily grind…take a walk, play an instrument, or read a book. Each week, keep the Sabbath. Have one day in seven that you intentionally rest. Rejuvenate your spirit, soul, and body! Finally, at least once a year, get out of town, relax, and leave your worries behind.
Regardless of your circumstances, find your rhythm and balance for a healthy successful life!
Ken Craft is the Founder and CEO of Hope the Mission, a leading Housing and Homeless Service Provider in Southern California. hopethemission.org
