Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Learning to linger longer

July 25, 2017 by Kristin 13 Comments

Give me a vacation, and I will prepare to fill every minute. I fill the days on my old-fashioned paper calendar with people to see, errands to run, things to do. I can tell you plans I’m making in my head for upcoming birthdays and weekends well in advance. I like traditions to anchor me when so much else changes.

This summer I’ve learned the
value of lingering longer.

{Tweet that.}

Yes, some of this lesson has been learned poolside, where I’ve relaxed with friends or a fiction book while dirty dishes and laundry piles wait. But that’s not the only place I’ve lingered.

Almost-nightly games of Rummy with my oldest who stays up later than the other two have helped me linger in this season of parenting three kids in three different seasons. “I’m not sure what we’re doing tomorrow” hasn’t necessarily satisfied my extroverted son, but the white space it creates on my calendar and in my soul has helped me slow down and soak in summer. My youngest who isn’t quite two steals naps when she can – sometimes in the minivan thinking that will keep her out of the crib – and reminds me she won’t be this little for long.

Lingering longer goes against everything in my natural self that tends to want to be efficient and productive, but it always helps restore hope and joy to my soul. I’m a high-capacity person who multitasks pretty well, but lingering slows my natural ways and keeps what matters most at the forefront of my mind.

The idea about lingering longer is something I’ve held onto from when I read “The Happiness Dare: Pursuing Your Heart’s Deepest, Holiest, and Most Vulnerable Desire” by Jennifer Dukes Lee last year, but it’s really taken up residence in my life this summer, and hopefully for many more days to come regardless of the season.

I love what she says about lingering:

“Science tells us when we linger longer – even for a few extra seconds – we are actually helping rewire our brains. Lingering helps our brains transfer positive feelings from our short-term memories into our long-term memories, says Rick Hanson, author of the book ‘Hardwiring Happiness.’”

I’ve lingered in the grocery, where I’ve crossed paths with friends I don’t see often enough. I’ve lingered in the minivan as I finish texts to the people with whom I have ongoing conversations. I’ve lingered on the couch with my oldest when everyone else was sleeping or working, in the twin bed at bedtime with my middle, and on the floor with my youngest who discovers new details every day. I’ve lingered so much all those projects I wanted to do this summer are now ones I’m hoping I’ll do in the fall.

I’ve lingered because the pace of this life is faster than I really want. I’ve lingered because I want to remember. I’ve lingered because these everyday moments matter in the big picture.

*****

And speaking of books that help me appreciate the small things that are big things, I have an awesome sale to tell you about! I recently read Melanie Shankle’s new book “Church of the Small Things: The Million Little Pieces of That Make Up a Life,” which doesn’t even release until October. BUT you can preorder an electronic version of the book now for just $4.99 TODAY (7/26/17) ONLY wherever ebooks are sold, including Amazon, obviously.

*****

Kristin Hill Taylor - Porch Stories
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Filed Under: Porch Stories

Comments

  1. Michele Morin says

    July 26, 2017 at 8:01 am

    I even like the sound of the word “linger.”

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 26, 2017 at 3:14 pm

      Me too! I’m glad you’re here, Michele!

      Reply
  2. Susan Shipe says

    July 26, 2017 at 10:04 am

    I agree with Michele (the Wordsmith extraordinaire)…even the word LINGER sounds lovely, languishing, lazy in the best of ways. Yes, Kristin, linger as long as you’d like. xo

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 26, 2017 at 3:13 pm

      Yes, I agree! You strike me as someone who is good at lingering.

      Reply
  3. Katie says

    July 26, 2017 at 2:08 pm

    I’m such a lingerer! I think it’s the Minnesotan in me when a goodbye lasts an extra three hours 😉 Or when we keep the food passing and the conversation going even though no one is hungry anymore.

    These years are so fast and short that I’m okay putting off certain projects when it means extra time soaking up the fleeting moments of their childhood.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 26, 2017 at 3:13 pm

      I want to be more of a lingerer. I’m in a hurry too often. 🙂 You encourage me so much, Katie!

      Reply
      • Katie says

        July 27, 2017 at 3:06 pm

        I think frequently my lingering is a cover for procrastinating, but I’ll keep calling it lingering to put a positive spin on things. It’s just what I do 😉

        Reply
  4. Maree Dee says

    July 26, 2017 at 7:04 pm

    I am taking a week off from technology starting tomorrow. I love your post. I am going to take that comment “lingering longer” with me everywhere I go. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 26, 2017 at 10:20 pm

      I’m so glad you could be encouraged, Maree! Enjoy your break!

      Reply
  5. Lisa notes says

    July 27, 2017 at 4:20 pm

    Lingering longer…that has such a nice sound! I want to do more of that, too. I can always start it right now, today. Thanks, Kristin!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 27, 2017 at 5:49 pm

      Sometimes I have to start over with some lingering right in the middle of the day. 🙂 Glad you’re here, Lisa!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 4 Books I Recommend - July 2017 says:
    July 26, 2017 at 6:58 am

    […] with Shari, Kristin, […]

    Reply
  2. Five Things I Learned in July says:
    July 31, 2017 at 6:00 am

    […] concept of lingering longer applies to my whole summer, and not just that one weekend in St. Louis. I do hope I can carry the slower pace – at least the […]

    Reply

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About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

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