For the past few years, I’ve developed a little habit I now refer to as my ‘hibernating’. Not exactly like a bear, but sort of. It developed more or less by default. You see, October, November, December are typically my busiest months with photography, so by January, I am pooped. Physically, mentally, creatively exhausted. Needless to say, January has become the month where I like to hibernate: read a book, cook dinner, take a break from social media, take a break from my computer, take a long bath, go to the movies….things to rest + recharge . 
 
As January appeared on my calendar this year, however, my days of hibernation had dwindled down to just a few. Noooooooo!!!! My introverted self felt unable to fathom how I could keep outputting without its usual hibernation period. I felt like I had emptied my tank of every drop and now there was no time to fill it back up before it needed to be used again. Even as I approached setting goals for 2015, one of my favorite things to do, it felt like too much to think about without feeling rested and replenished for the new year. Those are the times where I so badly wish I was an extrovert!  
 
But it is always these moments, these days where I feel like I can’t give anymore, where my tank is empty, God gives me the strength I need. And gives the things I need to keep me going.

For my few days away, I read a few books, I cooked different dishes I’d been wanting to try, I went to the movies, took about 1000 baths…okay, not really, but my one felt like a thousand. Simple things. Things that replenish my soul. And although these things were wonderful, it was the unexpected things that brought me back to life: the friend that insisted on picking me up at the airport when I try my best to not be a nuisance, the fancy dinner arranged by a dear friend to celebrate my engagement, the hours spent with friends at lunch sharing the deep hurts and struggles in life, picking out a date outfit with a friend via iPhone pics, the few minutes spent at my favorite spot overlooking my most favorite city sharing chips and salsa with a friend, watching the sunset.  
 
Oh, my soul! I am so very grateful for these things. Intangible, moments, tears, celebrations, real, hearty, life, shared with friends. It reminded me of God’s grace and goodness in my life – the thing I most needed to keep going.  
 
And so, my cup runneth over.  
 
Sometimes, it is the thing you didn’t know you needed.