Sarah Lynn Grubb

Step Outside

Daley Ranch, Escondido, Ca

If I want something to happen I have to put it on my calendar.

Once a week I have the boot emoji beside the word “hike”. It’s a standing date with myself to step outside.

Recently, I heard this definition of a hobby: A hobby is something you do that makes you lose track of time.

For some people that is NOT hiking. For me, it is.

What hobbies do you have? I’ve been asking my husband (true story) since 2020 when we were driving home from Mammoth Lakes after exploring and hiking and finding lakes and hot springs … Babe, what are our hobbies??? We were a year away from our first child going off to college and 3 years away from being empty nesters with our 2nd going off to college. And I can be a planner (sometimes). And for our marriage to grow (cause I had heard it was hard when your kids leave) we HAD to have hobbies. My husband didn’t have an answer that was acceptable to me… But I’ve realized since then we do have hobbies. We hike. We go to the beach. We travel and explore new places. And as we continue to live and grow we’ll keep finding hobbies to add to our individual and collective list.

Hobbies are heathy and can add years to your life apparently. Is binge watching a reallly good show a hobby?? I guess it can be. I mean, I lose track of time until Netflix kindly asks me if I’d like to continue watching my show…

I’m learning that finding a hobby and putting it on my calendar is a good idea. So, hiking, it’s on my calendar every week. I cross-stitch. Yep, I’m a nerd. More hobbies I’m looking forward to starting are kayaking (with Matt) and gardening (without Matt). You may have completely different genres of hobbies and that is great! But find and do something that brings you joy and adds value to your life and helps you lose track of time. That’s the search. Cause when I am investing in activities and people that add value to my life, I find that I am becoming a much, much better version of myself.

And for inspiration. Just step outside.

Be a Beginner

I’ve played pickle ball one time in my life and I sucked.

I grew up playing piano as my extracurricular, not sports. I did play softball for two years in middle school… but I was the kid that was in right field for 2 innings only because everyone on the team had to play at least 2 innings. Sports are just not really my thing.

I knew this going into pickleball. It was at a staff ‘fun’ day. Fun for the people who knew how to play pickleball. I felt super foolish and I knew I looked ridiculous missing the ball over and over. But I swallowed my pride and tried something new.

The idea of ‘being a beginner’ on purpose was introduced to me in ‘The Next Right Thing’ by writer and podcaster Emily P Freeman. I’m a fan. If you’re not already, she’s worth a look up.

There are plenty of excuses for not being a beginner. You might mess up, or do it wrong, look ridiculous and what will people think? But one of my core values is Growing: caring for the mind, heart and body God gave me. And part of growing is learning and to learn something means you don’t know it already and if you don’t know it already you can’t possibly not be a beginner.

I am going to be a beginner tomorrow, entering into new territory. I’m a bit nervous, insecurities are hovering on the peripheral. But I want to grow so I’ll go anyway.

30 days

I’m on day 25 of the Whole 30 diet. No added sugars. No dairy. No legumes. No hazelnut creamer in my coffee or glass of wine at night. No birthday cake or quesadillas (a Grubb house staple), for 30 days.

This is my 2nd time doing this reset in the past 2 years and the mental, physical and emotional benefits make it worth the discomfort of saying no for a little while. What I envision for myself 30 days from day 1, 20 days from day 10, and now 5 days from day 25 keep me going.

Have you thought about what motivates you? Are you in a rut and can’t seem to pause long enough to pull yourself out, or don’t have the strength or the desire to?

I want to run a 1/2 marathon with my son. I want to backpack in Oregon with my daughter. I want to hike the Camino de Santiago with my husband. I’m preparing today for what I want to do tomorrow and a year from now and 5 years from now and 10 years from now. And I am finding a new sense of contentment and peace in my life as I make a ton small choices everyday with these goals in mind.

Some goals need to be longer than 30 days (like the ones I mentioned above). But if I start today I am one step, one day closer to my goal.

Take a moment and write down where you’d like to be in 30 days. It can be a goal around health, a habit you’re trying to create or one you’re trying to break, it can be relational, vocational, spiritual, simple. A lot can happen in 30 days.

The Bible says ‘What you sow is what you’ll reap’, Galatians 6:7. We plant today for a harvest that will take time to mature. Some seeds sprout quickly and grow fruit fast. While others take years to produce a harvest.

But the principle remains. ‘What you sow is what you’ll reap’. May we plant well today. You can grow a lot in 30 days.

Don’t miss it

In 2007, when our kids were both under 4 and Matt and I were in a stressful season of ministry, I wrote a song. I named it ‘Tragedy’. A bit dramatic, yes, and on the nose about being awake to the day in front of you, not missing it. (It also feels kind of like a broadway tune, a light vibe for a heavy topic)

I was inspired by a recurring theme in my life: not being fully present and enjoying the moment I am in. Or maybe being present but being cranky in my presentness. Often I’m thinking about what’s next… the next project I’m working on, or snack I’m going to have… the next time I’ll see my kids or the next getaway my husband and I have planned… the next thing that has to be done on my never ending list of things to do… But what about this moment, the one I am currently sitting IN? What about Today?

So, as I was writing this I stopped and practiced:

I got up, opened my window so I could hear the wind chimes that were moving outside in the breeze. I noticed that the hills beyond our fence are rocky and green. I love living with hills and mountains close by. The sky is San Diego blue with wispy white clouds. I enjoyed a cup of Echinacea tea to help build up my immune system, even though I really want a cup of coffee, not for the coffee and caffeine but for the sugary creamer and whipped cream I love to put in it. Hmmmm stream of consciousness.

Sometimes it’s good for the soul to simply stop.

Observe. Breathe. Smile. Savor. Be still.
That reminds me.

Be still and know that I am God – Psalm 46:10

So I sat and settled in that truth for a moment.

Our striving and doing and moving are often motivated by fear or control. I HAVE to get this done or else…

And what about the person on the other side of us when we’re hustling to get to the next thing and not enjoying the moment we’re sharing with them?

Be still and know that I am God. Your lists and projects aren’t going anywhere, but they might work out even better if you choose to be still, for a moment.

Don’t miss it.

Don’t let life be a tragedy.

You can check out Tragedy on Spotify or wherever you stream your music 🙂