Putting Off the Zombie Apocalypse

A recent blogging prompt focused on the habits we are incorporating into our daily life to help us live a more sustainable lifestyle inspired me to wonder, “What is a sustainable lifestyle?”

Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?

According to one of the AI Chatbots, “a sustainable lifestyle is a way of living that seeks to reduce personal and collective environmental impact by making choices that are mindful of the planet, people, and future generations. It involves aligning your habits, consumption, and values with long-term ecological balance, social or responsibility, and economic viability.”

Yeah. That’s what I was afraid of. Forgive me, but I don’t read the question that way…at all.

Upon reading the prompt, initially, I thought about the practices that I am employing to help sustain me.

You see, I am in a season where I am focused more on myself than the world around me. At the moment, I am more concerned with myself and my own survival than what’s happening on Planet Earth, now or in the future. Honestly, there are some days when I look at the world and think, “Bring on the Zombie Apocalypse!”

I mean, Terri and I do recycle.

My journey toward sustaining my life began with calling an audible and taking a time out. I found myself at my wits’ end. Terri was seriously concerned for my health and welfare, not to mention my sobriety. Life as I was living it had become uncomfortably unsustainable. An emergency alarm monitoring my life was ringing and it was clear I needed to act immediately.

Initially, I took a leave from my ministry gig at the Dallas homeless outreach, OurCalling. As I approached the end of my 8 weeks of leave, I realized that I could not go back. It simply wasn’t sustainable, no matter how much I loved the work that I was doing to help people living on the streets. It had taken me two months to start decompressing. I worried that this might be the end of my life, that I might wind up in some institution, or that I would never recover. The pit I found myself in was deep and I didn’t know if I’d find a way out. But God…

You see, the Holy Spirit comforted me and took me in His arms. God guided me, one step at a time, one day at a time. The Lord reminded me that He had brought me through much worse and that He would do so again. God is our faithful stronghold amid the storm. He does not forsake us or forget us. He delivers us.

My faith in God is the cornerstone of sustainability. He is my rock and my shield.

I continued my weekly counseling sessions (as I had done for nearly three years). Taking an active part in my mental health is paramount to living a sustainable lifestyle.

I began to walk. Short distances, less than a mile, at first. I showed up every day, despite the struggle. I worked my way up to a mile, then two, then three, and so and so on. Sometimes, Terri is able to walk with me. I rarely miss my daily jaunt through our scenic park trails. Unless I need to rest.

Ah…rest. Yes, sleep is more important than we think to maintaining a sustainable lifestyle. Together, Terri and I have focused and invested a lot into learning how to get a good night’s sleep. We pay attention to key factors like our heart rate, heart rate variability, restful sleep, sleep timing, and breath rate. Rest and sleep are essential pillars of a sustainable lifestyle.

Four months into my self-imposed sabbatical, I incorporated weight and strength training into my physical fitness routine. In June, the fifth month of my timeout (but only third after my decompression), I started yoga. Although it’s extremely challenging and demanding, I enjoy the benefits I feel from stretching muscles and attempting to contort my body into unusual (for me) poses.

Friend, don’t be afraid to try new things.

Mentally, in addition to regular counseling, I draw, read, and work the odd crossword puzzle.

Mostly, I focus on being—living in the moment that I am in more than revisiting the past or peeking too far into the future. I’ve found that one big key to a sustainable lifestyle is fully experiencing TODAY.

It’s all part of putting off the Zombie Apocalypse. When my life derailed, there was no time to learn what new chapter I was stepping into before leaving the old one. I simply had to trust God and lean on my wife, Terri, the person who knew me best and I trusted most.

Hopefully, this post helps somebody. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the COMMENTS.

What practices help you maintain a sustainable lifestyle?

Until my next post…

Be salty, stay lit.

With grace and grit,

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

#bgbg2#BibleGateway

The Stigma Stops Here.🛑

#mentalhealthmatters