Rethinking the Lunch Box

The simple chore of packing the kids daily lunch has encouraged me to look at how I pack MY Life Box.

This morning when I was packing my kids lunch boxes it got me thinking.  Every morning I make sure to pack them nutritional lunches that will get them through the second half of their day.  Lunches that will provide nourishment and energy.  I am very careful to add a protein for strength, something sweet and something salty for balance, fruits and veggies for nutrition, something fun like fruities or a Hershey kiss, and a bottle of water to refresh and refuel.  I find packing their lunches to be a lot of pressure.

After all, it is what will help them survive another “boring day” at school (I’m quoting them here, ha!).   As I was going through the check list in my head this morning, it got me thinking.  Am I as intentional in packing my life box as I am in packing the lunch box?  After all, a lot of prep goes into daily lunch packing. 

First I have to take inventory of what is in our pantry. What are we running low on, what are we out of, what do I need to change up to prevent burnout?  Then I have to head to the grocery store with my list (and my coupons that my husband cuts out).  I read labels, look for healthy options, look for some creative changes.  I head back home and put everything away in it’s spot so it is easy to find each morning.  It is a process.  Weekly, I check in to see what is needed, and make sure I have everything ready to pack a healthy lunch.

So here’s where it got me thinking.  What if each Sunday night as I was looking ahead at my week, I intentionally took inventory of what I need for my life box. Made my”shopping”  list of what I needed for a soul nourishing week.  Looked for new ways to spice up the regular and prevent burnout.  What if I made sure everything I needed was in it’s place…

How I pack the kids lunch has given me some insight to teach me to better pack my life…what would feed me?

• What do I need more of this week? laughter, girlfriend time, sleep?  What if I made sure to pencil that in.
• What am I missing? organization… my make-up counter is a disaster, my laundry is piled up and I can’t see the living room floor.  What if I made sure to take some time to put things where they belong.  Got the family involved in getting the laundry done.  Had the kids pick up the family room.
• What will refresh me? Time with my husband, maybe plan a mid day date downtown this week, or an early dinner out.
• How can I add creativity or flair? Maybe find an hour to scrapbook, organize my  photos, read the book that is on my night stand…

Would my life box contain the same ingredients as the kids lunch box?  Let’s take a look.  I would need:

• Protein  = Well that’s an easy one…. My protein = prayer. This keeps me strong, centered and ready.
• Something sweet and salty = another easy one… something sweet is my love of my family and my something salty is my sense of humor
• Fruits and Veggies = my fruit is time with my girlfriends and my veggie is my time at the gym.
• Something fun = working on my hobbies – knitting, scrapbooking, laughing with the kids
• Refreshing Drink = for the kids it’s the simple drink of water, for me, it’s just simplicity!  What can I take out of my life this week that will get me back to the basics?  How can I simplify what I fill my life boxwith?  I mean, I have to be very careful not to over pack the lunch box or it won’t close… it will be too heavy to carry… Same thing with what we fill our life boxes with.  We need to be sure not to overfill our box.  Keeping it simple also insures that our loads are light.  Who needs more baggage???

Here’s the bottom line.  If I were to take the time to prep  and pack my life box in the same committed fashion that I pack my kids lunch box, how much “fuller” would my life be?  How much stronger would I be, how much healthier would my life be? By taking stock of what I need to replenish, refuel, and rejuvenate I can a lead a more FULL life.  Full of joy, full of peace, full of gratitude.  This is what I want my box filled with.